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madamechewy
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Try the pies, skip the savories Smile Aug 21, 2014   
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Categories : Café | Desserts and Cakes

Windowsill in the Woods, more commonly known as Windowsill Pies is a suitably casual and cherry place to spend a lazy afternoon catching up with friends or with a lovely book. Upon pushing open the wooden door, you’ll be greeted by an vibrant display of eye-catching pies. They specialize in artisanal pies; all the pies are sweet but I’m not complaining!

The setting of the cafe reminds me of something you’d find a page of a children’s story book. Lively vibes with lots of chatter and friendly staff chirping away at the counter. Its self-service here-order at the counter and collect your mains from the kitchen booth when your buzzer beeps. There’s no GST or service charge.

Savory menu changes fortnightly. Selection is limited and we were quite disappointed with our choices. Texture of my Roast Beef Yorkshire Pudding($14) was too tough, because the meat was overcooked. Lightly seasoned, I could taste the natural flavor of the beef, which went well with the caramelized onions and Yorkshire pudding. However the corn chips were so bland, I was struggling to finish them (I don’t like to waste food).
M’s Handmade Burger ($18) fared better. Seasoning was spot on, but there were some dry areas within the beef patty. Chips were boring and we felt that $18 was too pricy for such a small serving.
W was starving and needed her dose of carbs. She went for Baby Octopus and Chicken Heart Pasta ($14), which was tossed in a spicy tomato base.
Using the Entertainment coupon, we enjoyed a one for one set of pie and pot of tea. We took some time to settle for 3 pies (oh choices, choices). The Gryphon Moscato Blanc (grape) an Aloe Vera Rooibos ($6 each) complemented the sweet pies well.

For adults only, the Banana Almond Brittle ($7) is a symphony of cognac cream, airy banana mousse on a almond brittle base. Salted caramel and crunchy nuts and another dimension in flavor and texture. Although I am not a fan of banana, I was quite fond of this particular pie.
Designed to represent a field, White Chocolate Truffle Pie ($8) was quite a complex explosion of flavors. A tango of sweet white chocolate and woody truffle, graced by a layer of cookie crumble and meringue (which represented soil and a mushroom respectively). Personally, the raisins and candied thyme kinda spoilt it for me. Upon biting into each raisin, the truffle flavour was overwhelmed and the candied thyme was just weird. Too many things going on at the same time IMHO.

Awake your senses with face-scrunching tartness of the Strawberry Lemon Pie ($7), completed with soft torched meringue. Tangy and refreshing, it’s a perfect perk-me-up in Singapore’s sweltering heat.

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/08/20/windowsill-pies/
 
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Date of Visit: Jun 14, 2014 

Spending per head: Approximately $27(Lunch)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 3  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 3

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Categories : Bars/Lounges | Café

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/06/19/maison-ikkoku/
When I first heard about Maison Ikkoku, the first thing that came to my mind was the manga and anime series of the same name. The lifestyle destination has nothing to do with the popular Japanese romantic comedy; it’s a cozy shop house with a café on the ground floor and bar on level 1. There used to be a menswear boutique stocking indie labels but unfortunately it ceased operations in February this year.
The café is quite small; reservations recommended to avoid disappointment. Décor is a mix of vintage industrial. We would have loved to sit around and chat, but there was a queue outside, hence we left as soon as we were done eating. Its self-service here (no service charge), you’ll have to fetch your own water but food will be brought to your table.
Maison Ikkoku is well known for their quality coffee. G was pleased with her fragrant and not overly sweet Caramel Latte ($7).
The café is also popular for brunch items. G’s Instagram-worthy French toast with Caramelized Bananas ($15), arrived quickly despite the crowd. Inch thick brioche French toast with cinnamon soaked up the mouth-watering home-made caramel with sea salt sauce, with a dollop of sour cream and toasted walnuts. I suspect sour cream was used in place of traditional whipped cream to balance out the sweetness; however, the combi didn’t sit quite well with us.
Twisted French Omelette ($16) with spinach, chives, bell peppers and mild cheddar was not spectacular, but nonetheless appealing. Tangy cherry tomatoes, breakfast potatoes, salad with roasted almonds and sourdough toast complete this hearty dish. My only gripe? Potatoes were cold.
My slice of summer! The sight of rainbow cake never fails to brighten my day. We struggled to finish this massive Rainbow Cake ($10) which was served on a chilled plate. At the first bite, the cake was a little rough, but the moistness came through as we chewed. Texture-wise, it’s dense and slightly doughy. Unfortunately, there was lingering artificial aftertaste. Wished I had ordered the salted caramel cake instead.
 
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Date of Visit: Mar 15, 2014 

Spending per head: Approximately $26(Lunch)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 3  |  
Clean
 3  |  
Price
 4

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Must try the Crayfish Laksa OK Jun 05, 2014   
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Categories : Café

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/06/04/island-cafe/

Oooo, Tangs Member Sales! MIL and I shopped for hours, and it was time for refuelling. I was craving for laksa, so MIL suggested Island Cafe, well-known for their crayfish laksa and Asian fare.
Located on level 4 in Tang Orchard, the cafe is a great for taking a break from all the shopping. While the hawker fare at Tangs Market in basement 1 is very yummy, we were simply too tired to wait around for a table. It’s much more comfy to rest your tired legs (and aching body) at the spacious (and less crowded), resort-styled Island Cafe.

Emphasis is placed on Asian dishes, such as Hor fun and Kuey Tiao. If you prefer western fare, salads and sandwiches are also available.
Refreshing Summer Passion mocktails ($6.50) to rejuvenate exhausted shoppers.
A sight to warm any laksa lover’s heart, no?
Island Cafe’s signature, crayfish laksa ($20), a rich and spicy coconut gravy with thick rice vermicelli, prawns, quail eggs, fish cafe, cockles and crayfish. Comes piping hot, so be careful as you dig in! I recommend putting the apron provided on to prevent stains on your clothes.
Hainanese Pork Chop Rice ($16) was decent too. The breaded pork chop had a crispy exterior, yet most and tender on the inside. Drizzled with Hainanese style tomato sauce.
We ended our meal with a complimentary birthday cake. Carrot cake was ok, nothing to shout about.

 
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Date of Visit: Feb 21, 2014 

Spending per head: Approximately $30(Lunch)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 3  |  
Service
 3  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 4

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Categories : Fujian/Heng Hwa | Chinese | Restaurant | Seafood

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/05/24/putien-vivocity/
Expanding from a single coffee-shop styled eatery to 9 restaurants , Putien is certainly doing very well. The chain specialises in Heng hwa cuisine, a sub-category of Chinese cuisine with roots linked back to a coastal town located in the Fujian province of China. It’s hard to go wrong where the food philosophy is to serve uncomplicated, quality dishes at reasonable prices. The healthy-tasting, home-cooked fare satisfied our stomachs and touched our hearts.
Generally good vibes at the Vivocity branch-brightly lit, modern, classy decor and warm service.
My passion fruit drink ($4.90) was way too sweet while hubby’s Barley and Winter Melon($3.50) was satisfactory.
On every table, you’ll find a pot of Putien’s homemade chilli. Its prepared daily, hence the freshness is unmistakeable.
We kicked start the dinner with a soup to warm our tummies. Braised Bean Curd with Chinese Cabbage (small $17.50, med $25.90) is a light broth flavoured with seasonal calms, dried shrimps and dried scallops, homemade bean curd and Chinese cabbage. A bowl of rice paired with this lovely, nutritious soup can be a meal in itself.
A snack dating back to the 1920s, Putien Jian Bao ($7.20 for 4 pieces) is a popular order. Pan fried on both sides to a glistening brown, it’s packed with minced pork, radish and mushrooms. Dip them in the specially concocted sauce for maximum flavour.
Deep fried duck with yam (small $16.50, large $31.80). Both fil and I love yam, plus I am a big fan of duck. Duck meat is enveloped with smooth yam paste, followed by a light crispy crust which was not too oily or thick. Because the duck meat was bland, we found ourselves splashing quite a bit of the accompanying sauce to lift the flavour.
Putien Sweet and Sour Pork with Lychees (small $12.50, med $18.50) intrigued me. Lychees? We didn’t regret this order and will eat this again and again. Tender pork wrapped with deep fried batter, coated evenly with familiar sweet and sour sauce lightened by lychees.
I can’t say no to anything crispy, so Deep Fried Squirrel Fish ($38) was another highlight. Live sea bass is deboned, leaving its fillet still attached to its tail. Fried perfectly, it crispy on the outside while remaining soft and flaky on the inside. The dish is enhanced with tangy sweet gravy and garnished with chopped vegetables.
Putien style oyster omelette (small $16.90, med $23.90) was decent, with heaps of oysters.
The last dish to grace our table was Putien Mee Sua (small $8.90, med $17.80, large $26.80) with a milky broth cooked from pork ribs and bones. The Longevity noodles are handmade using traditional methods, which ensures that they don’t turn soggy when cooked.
I was keen to try the Purple Sweet Potato with Pumpkin Cream dessert but was almost at the brink of bursting. It’ll have to wait till next time.
 
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Date of Visit: Feb 06, 2014 

Spending per head: Approximately $40(Dinner)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 3  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 3

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Categories : Teochew | Seafood | Kids-Friendly

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/05/17/chui-huay-lim/
Teochew cuisine sets itself apart from most other Chinese cuisines by being light-handed on flavourings, salt and oil. Commonly regarded as being very healthy, cooking methods often involve poaching, steaming and braising, depending much on the freshness and quality of ingredients for taste and flavour. FIL is a Teochew and Chui Huay Lim is currently our go-to-place for authentic and classic Teochew dishes.
Located at the Chui Huay Lim clubhouse, the 4000 square foot restaurant prepares delicate and heart-warming dishes. You do not need to be a club member to dine here. Enjoy discounts if you are a Jumbo member as Chui Huay Lim is part of the Jumbo Group. The restaurant itself is tastefully decorated with oriental influences; nice place to have family celebrations/gatherings/dinners. Reservations recommended as its packed most of the time.
To be honest, the food is good, but not mind-blowing. Plus prices are on the steep side. Service is similar with most other popular Chinese restaurants, efficient but rushed and soulless.
Pretty strong Gongfu Tea to cleanse the palate. This was our first visit, we were unsure of what to order, hence we picked a set meal the staff recommended ($368++ for 4 pax). I will be doing another post on our ala carte dinner visit soon which features the classic steamed pomfret.
Duo of chilled Lobster and Cold Crab Platter. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Freshness allowed the sweet succulent meat of the crustaceans to shine. And my oh my, look at the crab roe! Pair it with Teochew chilli, garlic and vinegar dipping sauce for the extra oomph!
I don’t eat shark’s fin, but for those who are keen, here are the pictures of the Double-boiled Superior Shark’s Fin Soup which is part of the set meal.
A winning combo of braised whole abalone and fish maw with oyster sauce. The 10 head abalone were huge, hence it was quite difficult to pick a piece up with chopsticks. Despite using a spoon at the same time, I found it arduous manoeuvring it so that I could take a bite (imagine if it dropped and bounced onto the floor, crys). A fork and knife would have come into handy to cut it into small pieces so that diners can savour the delicacy slowly. Same goes for the large silky and chewy mushrooms lying underneath.
Tender and flavorsome Teochew Braised Duck, slices of warm comfort lying atop silky tofu. We devoured it in 2 blinks. Blink blink…gone!
TeoChew Seafood Fried Mee Sua had a generous portion of seafood (you can tell they didn’t skimp at all) and is not too oily. Love the “wok hei” flavor of this dish.
Despite my exploding tummy, I couldn’t resist the Sweet Yam Paste with Hashima dessert.
 
 
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Date of Visit: Jan 25, 2014 

Celebration:  生日 

Spending per head: Approximately $107(Lunch)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 3  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 3

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