To know Singaporean cuisine, one must definitely know Hainanese Chicken Rice. Contrary to most assumptions, this brand of chicken rice did not have its roots from the Hainan Island, but evolved right here in the little island of Singapore.

And in Singapore, the title of Chicken Rice King is still hotly contested, with Tian Tian as a serious contender for the throne.

Bid adieu to the days of Paddlepop for the latest in gelato is in town. Stickhouse, now open with 3 outlets islandwide (Tanjong Pagar, Sentosa Imbiah Station and Orchard Plaza), offers classy Italian gelato served on a stick!There's a dazzling array of flavours to choose from - ranging from the all-time favourite of chocolate to more obscure flavours like Coconut or Liquorice. Additional variations include the Golosticks (praline-covered), Fruit Sorbets (both plain and coated) and the most unique Stick Merenda, a soft sponge cake filled with fruit or chocolate jams coated in your choice of chocolate and sprinkled with your selected toppings.

At the time of this review, there was an ongoing promotion that offered half price on the second stick... *Shrugz*Plain and simple - Chocolate GelatoChocolate with a nutty touch (hazelnut sprinkles)

Eating the gelato off the stick really brought back waves of nostalgia, only waayyy better in terms of quality. Thicker and creamier, my stick of Chocolate gelato has that strong full-bodied flavour any chocoholic can wish for and trumped my memories of Paddlepop hands down. The card box provided also helps prevent any mess, from dripping gelato onto your clothes.

So next time if you are in the vicinity of any Stickhouse and are in need of a chilly dessert, just let yourself go that once. It's probably worth it. =D

Since its launch in Singapore, St Marc's has been a very appealing option for drinks and warm oven-baked bread at Vivo City. Chilling out at the pleasant environment of the cafe to the accompaniment of a cuppa' freshly brewed is an enjoyment in itself.

That was before it launched the ChocoCro.
Now, multiply that feeling of contentment by 5 One of the newer additions to the St Marc Cafe menu, the ChocoCro is simply put - a croissant with a chocolatey filling. What puts it above and beyond that plain description, is the buttery croissant that is light, doughy at the centre, getting flakey and finally a crispy golden brown on the outside. That plus the chocolate filling derived from a blend of Ghana and Ecuador beans, is just a winning combination for me.

A box of 5 ChocoCros would set you back by $12, slightly cheaper than if you would purchase the pastry one at a time. At around $2 a piece, it's really a great snack at good value. Must try!

Given that this popular Thai restaurant is barely a 5-minute walk from my humble abode, friends and colleagues actually find it pretty incredulous that I have never before this, tried out food from the incredibly popular Nakhon Kitchen. The reason is actually simple: The queues. Horribly long, and starting up to 1 hour before the meal times, I couldn't find it in me to just stand in line for so long, even for highly recommended Thai food.

Then on one Saturday, I found a middle ground - Nakhon Kitchen at Kovan offers takeout food! YAY!
There's not as many people, and you can simply place your order and come back for your food later, usually around 30mins. I'm not complaining!My take out for the night from Nakhon Kitchen - Clear Tom Yum Soup (Seafood), Pandan Leaf Chicken, Fried Chicken Wings (boneless), Deep Fried Pork with Garlic and a Thai Pineapply Fried Rice.Pandan Leaf Chicken - comes in set of 4. Intricately wrapped like the ketupats that come with satay. Taste wise, a slight letdown given the anticipation I get from how it looks. Maybe it's best had piping hot right from the kitchen.Fried Chicken Wings (boneless) - interesting take on a chicken wing, where the bones are extracted and the wing itself filled out with a mix of meat and mash. It still tastes slightly more on the bland side. Very much recommended to take with the sweet and sour chilli sauce provided.Thumbs up for this dish of Fried Pork with Garlic. Taste is reminiscent of the Chinese Lam Yu Pork, very much savoury and leaves you feeling fingers lickin' good and wanting more.

The Thai pineapple fried rice is generic and fragrant enough. I would very much like to acknowledge the clear tom yum seafood soup though. Clean, crisp flavours with just the right amount of heat - it was very much worth the $6 price tag.

At $28 for 2 and a 5-course dinner, Nakhon would really be a viable meal option that I would recommend. Most dishes are priced below $10 except for the seafood, making it extremely attractive to go for a variety as well.

Hidden find! A random trek down Simon Road one weekday evening found me at the entrance of Lola's Café. Very new to the neighbourhood, Lola's came across as a simple, unpretentious bistro outfit, very much of what you see is what you get.A glass door grants view of the entire restaurant interior. Utilitarian wooden tables with metal garden chairs for most part, with a rattan frame sofa right by the door for customers waiting in queue. What stood out most for me was the rows of empty black square frames on the wall that just gave that touch of chic to the entire place.

About the foodHerb-crusted Fish and Chips - $12.90
2 deep-fried breaded fillets served with a side of truffle fries and a pesto mayo dipping sauce.
Loved the fact that the fish of choice was haddock instead of the usual mushy dory. A richer, finer taste and less flaky. Herb mixed into the bread crumbs gave the fried fish a gorgeous speckled colour. The truffle fries were a tad of a letdown without much flavour. Wild Swimmer Crab Pasta - $14.90
Spaghetti served with crab meat and a tomato cream sauce. The italian noodles were al dente enough, but the crab meat was so mashed that any taste of crab was overwhelmed by the tomato cream sauce. It could have been tuna for all I know. So taste wise, not quite satisfied for me.A meal just wouldn't be complete without dessert, and at Lola's, there is quite a selection to choose from. Tarts, cakes, brownies and even exotic flavoured mousse concocted from stout.Caramelized Banana Earl Grey Tart with Pistachio Topping - $3.50
I picked the Earl Grey Tart. At $3.50, it was about the price of a Frozen Cheese Tart from Glace or Flor Patisserie and I would expect similar quality. Flavour wise, it did pique my interest. The pale undertones of Earl Grey rounded out the sweetness of the caramelized banana slices. A contrast in textures of the crackling banana and soft mousse of the Earl Grey was great too. My only gripe - the crust which just came across as those pre-made ones you can find at any supermarket.

All in all, a good quiet dining experience in the Heartlands. I would venture a second trip, if just for brunch and a second go at the very interesting dessert menu.