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.

Kiosks in the basement of shopping malls selling variations of Fish & Chips are quickly becoming a common sight. I've become fond of the Chippy's chain in particular - with their quick meal of Beer Batter Fish and Chips that has not yet failed to delight.

Fisherios has been at the basement of Takashimaya for a while. And I always thought that it was a pity not having the chance to try it.

That was until I tried it.

My order was for the pan-fried salmon dish. I'd just like the pictures I took to tell the story.We've seen the advertisements for seafood restaurants touting lobsters bigger than a little girl. Maybe Fisherios should do something along those lines too. A piece of salmon shorter and not much thicker than my fork?! And $8.90 to boot?

Epic failure. Avoid at all costs if you are looking for a filling meal.

I am a self-proclaimed chocolate addict, a hardcore chocoholic who champions everything chocolate.

So it should come as no surprise that Awfully Chocolate, with its array of chocolatey goodness is one of my favourite cafés to chill out. The outlet at Greenwich in particular, being newly revamped, is an absolute delight. Minimalistic design in just white and black, the glass walls of the café offer a clear view of the outside world in the relative air-conditioned, chocolate-perfumed comforts of Awfully Chocolate. On a lazy weekend afternoon, it's a great place to watch the world go by.Super Stacked Chocolate Cake - $6.50 per 100g
The kueh lapis of chocolate cakes, the Super Stacked Chocolate Cake is an enhanced version of the Awfully Chocolate staple. Layer upon layer of different chocolate types stacked together before finally being topped off by a glistening thick finish of awesome dark chocolate. For the adventurous and those who love chocolate above all, I would even go as far as to recommend a scoop of hei, premium dark chocolate ice cream to put the finishing touches on top of a splendid chocolate indulgence.