Think Singapore food delights in hawker centres and rojak would certainly pop into mind - an amalgam of flavours and textures that complement one another perfectly.

And I think I might just have found my favourite rojak with Kovan Rojak, one of the stalls located at Kovan Hougang Market & Food Centre just next to Heartland mall. I'm not the only fan, throngs lines up outside the stall on a daily basis just to get their hands on the savoury concoction prepared by the stall owner.

The mainstay of the dish would be the dough fritters (better known to locals as you tiao), stirred up in a mixture of prawn paste, cucumber, pineapple and cuttlefish, which is then sprinkled liberally with grounded peanut.What distinguishes the rojak at Kovan Rojak from so many other alternatives around, would be the effort that goes into its preparation. The dough fritters and cuttlefish are pre-grilled over a charcoal fire for that added crunch and slightly charred flavour, and the 'rojak sauce' uses only the finest native-produced prawn paste the stall owner can find. Also, unlike the usual offerings, Kovan Rojak offers the option of adding additional ingredients such as jellyfish, century egg and cuttlefish for a more wholesome serving. Of course all this would mean a slightly longer than average waiting time, but it's worth it!

Caffeine addicts looking for a new spin of espresso can now celebrate at this latest addition to the list of eating places at The Grandstand (formerly Turf City) - Latte E Miele.

The cosy cafe specializes in artisan gelato, but offers a range of snacks, cakes and beverages ranging from $2.50 for an Espresso shot to $9.90 for a BBQ Chicken burger with chips, and they are by no means pushovers as I very happily discovered.

My order of an Ice Blended Mocha was a delight to the senses. The fragrance of the coffee was apparent and at the first taste, the blend of chocolate with aromatic cappuccino came through strongly, delivering that punch that I look for with every cuppa'. And it didn't hurt as much as a standard Starbucks or Coffeebean at a very affordable $4.80.
Service was warm and personal within the cosy confines of the little cafe. But it wouldn't really be the chill out kind of place because of the availability of a children's play area within the premises. Let's face facts: kids are mutually exclusive with peace and quiet most of the time. But still, the Halloween decor of Latte e Miele at the time of my visit still made it quite the experience.

All in all, it'll be a place that I would visit again if only just for the coffee, and I would love to try their range of artisan gelatos as well. Only drawback is the location at Turf Club Road which might give potential patrons traveling by public transport cause for pause.

Dining with a view. That's a caption befitting a meal at The Club @ Marina Bay Sands. Ensconced high above the central business district, an alfresco seating would afford diners a breathtaking view of the bay and Singapore signature city skyline. Or they could opt to dine in the relative quiet of the cafe's plush interior. Either way, it's a great place to kick back and relax while enjoying the service provided by The Club's attentive staff.

Afternoon tea would just not be complete with an array of delectable pastries. What the Club does not have in quantity, it more than makes up with quality. It's a self-service concept for pastries, where diners are able to take their pick and eat their fill of the pastries laid out in a long table at the front of the cafe.My favourites in particular:
The Chocolate Cupcake with Orange Peel and the Waffle Blueberry Tart. The latter had a crispy waffle wrapped around creamy chocolate mousse, topped with 2 blueberries that capped the pastry nicely with that touch of acidity.I would usually avoid scones for the lack of flavour, but I am sure glad I picked up on the 2 at The Club. Both the Chocolate Chip and the Lemon Cranberry scones were wholesome and flavourful. The Lemon Cranberry one tasted both fresh and and fruity in the mouth. Me likey

Finally to wash down the dregs of a great meal, TWG's Silver Moon Tea would be my recommendation. One of the brand's unique blends, the Silver Moon Tea The Club should definitely be at the top of the list for choicest afternoon tea places both for food and the environment.

It's Restaurant Week in Singapore and it offers a unique chance to patronize fine dining spots that you might avoid normally due to the price tags. It was a happy coincidence that Salt Grill & Sky Bar by Luke Magan was one of the participating restaurants.

The first thing that anyone would feel about the restaurant even before seeing any food, would be that touch of exclusivity. A private elevator that went straight to level 55 of ION Orchard and the bird's eye view of the Orchard shopping belt that the lofty height afforded were just perks that you might not get elsewhere.

During this promotional period, there is a surprise 3-course menu designed by Salt Grill & Sky Bar, with 3 choices to choose from for Entree and Main Course and I chose 'glass' Sydney crab omelette with miso mustard broth and Grilled spatchcock with parsnip puree, grape and currant dressing respectively.

The former was really delectable - the juicy crab flesh ensconced in a fluffy omelette, drizzled liberally with a savoury miso broth was literally a flavour explosion on the palate. The grilled spatchcock wasn't too shabby either, with a definite fragrance to the meat that you wouldn't get with chicken, served with a golden brown crispy skin and yet still tender and moist on the inside.

Dessert was a winner with me as well. I had the restaurant's signature dessert, the Liquorice Parfait, liquorice flavoured custard served with freshly squeezed lime juice, candied lime and fragrant, crispy wafers. The 2 intense flavours of liquorice and lime blended to give titillating freshness on the palate after the meal.

The boldest grill - SKIRT has arrived on the shores of Singapore, within W Hotel at Sentosa Cove. Named after the skirt steak on its menu, SKIRT offers a variety of fresh crustacean and fish, but above all, specializing in meats of the finest quality from Argentina, Australia and USA, grilled in the traditional fashion of Parilla (wood-fired grill)

The highlight reel of starters we had:Miniature loaves of freshly baked sourdough bread served warm and toasty with a chilled pesto dip that had that faint tinge of seaweed. A duo of hot and cold foie gras, 1 served wrapped in pistachio, the other with corn alongside a sweetcorn puree. You get the savoury tang of the liver touched with the sweetness of corn. Yum!Handcut Truffle Fries served with a Saffron Mayonnaise. SKIRT's very classy take on the most familiar of comfort foods was delicious. The only gripe anyone had was the size of the serving, but I suppose that's fine dining for you.

For my main course, I simply could not settle for anything less than the restaurant's specialty of Parilla grill, and the biggest item no less- the Tomahawk, 1kg of Australian's natural grassfed Angus beef, served with the bone intact.Other choices of main courses in the party included:Braised Dorper Lam Leg served with Rosemary curd and Gremolata. Barely 2 rib bones worth of meat, but so tender and tangy that it left us wanting more.
Sous vide Challan Breast, served with Baby Carrot, Kale and Quince which was done evenly throughout the cut, retaining much of the juices of the bird.My choice of dessert to conclude the night of indulgence was the Warm Venezuekab Chocolate Mud, which packed as much flavour as any molten lava cake, only without being overly cloying. 2 thumbs up!

All in all I had a great meal in a restaurant with a fantastic ambiance. It's probably the hefty price tag that's standing between me and a re-visit.