wenzes's Profile

There were 3 levels of spiciness to choose from - Red, black and white. I tried the Black Spicy Ramen which was a peppery and spicy mix for broth. The noodles were tangy and the pork slices were soft and tender but I would have liked the yolk of the ramen egg to be a tad more underdone.I must say that with practically the entire foodie world raving about Ramen Keisuke Tonkotsu King's ramen, I'd heightened my expectations and was looking forward to be blown away by its flavours. While the bowl of ramen was undoubtedly good, I was pretty disappointed that it didn't surpass. …Read More

Toss & Turn is one salad shop I would go to on days I feel the need for a healthy punch during lunch. You can create your own salads here at $7.80 for a small serving and $9 for a regular. Difference being half the size and 2 less vegetable add ons. Fair warning, the regular salad is huge and their servings are beyond generous. You can also choose from their line of salad combinations but it's always nice to be able to decide what exactly goes onto your plate. I had a regular salad here, which was made up of: 1 Salad base - Cold pastated Chicken & Sauteed mushrooms4 Veggie/Crunchies - Wasabi sprouts, Cherry tomatoes, Beans & Almond flakesThen you get to top it up with sauce, of which I chose Honey mustard. The end product was extremely flavouful though I did find the roast chicken to be a bit dry. Also, $7.80/$9 stands pretty steep for a salad (which was why I chose noodles instead, to try and get my money's worth) but having said that, I would still head here for my salad fix in town. It pays to be/feel healthy. …Read More

Though Koh Grill & Sushi Bar is slightly hidden at the same level as Food Republic, there's no need for an introduction to this popular Japanese restaurant with a signature like the Shiok Maki ($16.80). It now comes in 2 versions - The first being "Generation 1" with unagi and of course, the 2nd generation featuring prawns, which we had.What the Shiok Maki comprises of:Avocado and prawn bits are wrapped around by seaweed, with an outer bed of rice (of course). Then, aburi salmon is draped over the top, slathered with a thick cheesy mentai dressing and finally topped with bursts of tobiko. As with many others who would highly recommend at least one order of the Shiok Maki when you're here, same for me. It's definitely a must-try, especially for those with a weakness for cheese. It comes in a great sharing portion too - 8 pieces of maki, unless you're made up of an odd number. Then, fight for it. Besides that perfect starter, I had a lunch set - Bento I ($14.90), which was basically Sashimi Moriawase with sides of rice, miso soup and a salad. Compared to the Shiok Maki, the bento set was a letdown. While the sashimi slices (salmon, tuna and yellowtail) were generous in terms of thickness, I really wish the portions were larger (3 each). As for the soup and salad, they were pretty standard. In conclusion,I don't know about their other food offerings like Ramen and grilled items but I wouldn't be particularly happy to order Bento I again. My colleague had Bento A, which had a far bigger portion of salmon sashimi slices (five). But of course, the Shiok Maki was a pleaser and I would certainly return for that again.…Read More

The Daily Scoop is my go-to place for ice cream whenever I'm in Holland Village. And it's always crowded at night with their limited seats available. We had the waffle with a scoop of Nutty Macadamia to share, which came drizzled with chocolate sauce. While we wished there had been more sweet lines of chocolate lashed over the dessert, the waffle carried a good texture and was firm to chew, and went really well the the creamy yet refreshing notes of the ice cream.…Read More

Every time I head to Ice Edge Cafe, I settle for the same thing - Aglio Olio and a Belgium Dark Chocolate Gelato. This time, I had a quick lunch and tried something new (to me). The Crab Bisque was thick with a generous amount of shredded crab meat blended in and over the top -- A bowl just so comforting on that cold rainy day. While the Salmon Baked Rice didn't look like much, underneath that crusted cheese was a pretty satisfactory mix of rice and baked salmon, which was moist enough so that a spoonful of cheese, rice and salmon harmonized well.For dessert, we tried the Lava Cake (but I'll be back for their infamous waffles). The thing I appreciate about Ice Edge Cafe is their unwavering standard and attention to details like this. The Lava Cake took a while to prepare and although the chocolate didn't ooze out as much as I'd hoped, the taste was pretty phenomenal. You get to choose the flavour of Gelato that comes with the Lava Cake, so we chose one that would pair well with the immense load of chocolate on the other side of the plate - Cookies & Cream. A good choice we made, I must say.…Read More

Yoshimaru Ramen Bar is located down that steep slope in Holland Village, next to 363 Katong Laksa and had a healthy crowd on a Thursday night. I always try to start from the basics whenever I try some place new, so I got the Traditional Hakata Ramen. The bowl of aromatic ramen arrived not too long later and at a glance, the amount of ingredients did not amaze me, especially since the ramen egg yolk looked a tad overcooked. But the taste. The taste was pretty good, more than satisfactory even. Though I did wish for a more generous amount of meat, the broth was indeed tasteful and the ramen -- comforting. We also ordered the Gyoza Platter to share. Quite a give and take here. While it wasn't oily - yay! - it was just a little dry on the outside - nay. On the bright side, the meats inside were moist enough for me.…Read More

My family had our first brunch out at Spruce over at Phoenix Park, Tanglin Road, a nice step out of our usual ensemble of locations. (Chinese restaurants mainly) Phoenix Park had a pinch of the Dempsey aura, with Spruce set slightly up slope with a backdrop of luxuriant foliage. If not for the humid weather, outdoor seats would've been Australian-April-weather-perfect.InteriorThe cafe was laden with a collection of paintings that were so jaw-dropping realistic with such vibrant colours. They made a whirlwind of a difference to the cafe’s interior which would otherwise be a bland (but seamlessly minimalistic) blend of white, brown and black. You know, "café colours".Brunch MainsSpruce British Brekkie (S$19) - Of all the breakfast platters I have tried, the quality of ingredients in this one pleased me the most. The foccacia toast was thick and fluffy and the scrambled eggs were nicely smothered with butter. Tomatoes were roasted with the vines still attached and the bacon was soft the way I liked it. Cajun Prawn Benny (S$25)Crab Cake Benny (S$25)The Cajun Prawn Benny & Crab Cake Benny were two less-than-usual takes on the usual Eggs Benedict and quite a divine spin too. The hefty price tag is justified with the sheer quality of their ingredients though we wish there were a bit more of it on the plate.DessertsAmerican Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream (S$15) - A classic dessert stayed that classic and for good reason too. The warm apple pie was drizzled with chocolate sauce, which enhanced its sweetness whilst the vanilla ice cream balanced the flavours and cooled each bite down perfectly. Baked Ginger Date Pudding (S$12) - We weren't too impressed with the Date Pudding, though it looked pretty good. The Pudding lacked a perfect consistency and that left me focusing more on the vanilla ice cream that I happily doused in the sweet caramel sauce.Flat White (S$6) - While I fell head over heels with the coffee cup, my Flat White was decent but it didn't wow me to any point because it was a tad too acidic and not thick enough for my liking.Spruce Lemonade with mint (S$6) ConclusionThe price of Spruce’s food was quite on the high end (for brunch) but that won’t stop me from returning ever again. The occasional splurge is worth it with good food in such a lovely atmosphere. They only serve brunch on weekends and public holidays, which I’m certain ensures a continuous peak period. Do make reservations if you’re planning on dining there.More reviews @ http://www.aquaintsense.wordpress.com…Read More

Its cheesy name raises eyebrows and gathers slaps of mockery but I had heard many good (pun intended) things about D’Good Café and finally got the chance to check it out over brunch on a Saturday.Don’t be fooled by what seems to be limited seating. There’s a reason why the tables aren’t all full at 11 on a Saturday — there are two storeys to this joint. D’good Cafe occupies level 2 and 3 of the shophouse that plies the same stretch as Starbucks and Hatched. For those unable to climb the stairs, fret not! You can take the elevator located through the glass doors of the clinic below. The cafe, ingested with rather adorable traces, is divided into four sections: The Bar, The Lawn (Level 2), The Attic & The Balcony (Level 3), which are all pretty self explanatory.Swing seats at The Lawn - possibly my favourite spot in the entire cafe.Their English Breakfast was huge and clearly included all the various elements one could want in the platter. While the scrambled eggs looked stunning, it was shy of great flavours. I prefer them a tad more moist and if possible, explosive with butter. The mushrooms scored a bitter vote and I wished the tomato was slightly more seasoned. All in all, it wasn’t the best English Breakfast I’ve tasted but the coffee sure made up for the lack thereof in that department.With limited food items on their menu and the sight of ginormous coffee equipment, it was clear that D’good Cafe spares no mercy in brewing up excellent cuppas to shake you awake from that morning daze.I love cafes that boast accessibility. They’re perfect for lazy days where you just want to get places fast, without having to climb ruddy hills or suffer the merciless rays of the sun that wimps the life out of that hair you spent an hour on. It also puts you in a splendid mood so you take true sips of your latte without distracting thoughts that pound on you when you’re in a fluster. So there we have it — D’Good Cafe. Really good.For more photos and other reviews, visit http://www.aquaintsense.wordpress.com…Read More

Located along the shop houses of East Coast Road are quite a number of food outlets but what the stretch severely lacked: A good cosy coffee joint that people can hide out in with friends or their mountain of assignments. Penny University made all the dreams of east-side cafe hoppers come true and 2 things you might like to know - They've got free wifi and halal cupcakes!CoffeeUpon seeing the words ‘Monmouth’ on the chalkboard, instant flashbacks to London hit me like a freight train, in a good way. Borough Market. Monmouth Coffee. Queuing for Monmouth Coffee. Sipping on one of the best cuppas to date.That up there, was definitely a good cup of coffee. Comforting in the damp weather, frothy and smooth to slither down my throat.CakesTheir cupcake flavours vary from day to day. While I absolutely have no recollection of the actual name of the one I had up there, I do know one thing — their cupcakes are halal! In fact, I believe halal ingredients are utilized for baking in Penny University though I can’t be certain that it goes the same for everything else on the menu.Simply said, the Cupcake I tried was an amazing chocolate story. The kind that consumes you. A perfect chocolate frosting atop a base that had just the right level of fluffiness. But while I do admit their cupcakes are good, it did pain me a little to fork out $4.20 for such a small portion.For the full review, read: http://aquaintsense.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/penny-university…Read More

With a well preserved splash of heritage in its shop, the original branch of Ya Kun Kaya Toast at China Street was surprisingly empty at noon on a weekday. Or so I thought. Soon after we had our orders taken, a huge Japanese tour group arrived with their floppy hats, along with many people from offices nearby.As always, the kaya toast never fails to satisfy. You might agree that the traditional toast has amazing contrast ability. It is first warm, rough and crisp, standing somewhere between a biscuit and soft wondrous bread. Then somewhere between that airy texture, you’re greeted by a cool buttery surprise and nanoseconds later, the sweet and creamy entrance of the legendary coconut jam.On the whole, I do particularly prefer this Ya Kun outlet to the many others around Singapore, just for that air of tradition flowing through the entire shop.For a full review, read: http://aquaintsense.wordpress.com/2013/09/01/ya-kun-kaya-toast-original-branch/ …Read More

What I saw It’s difficult to miss the shop since it stands out like a giant bright red phone booth along Tanjong Pagar Road. And of course, what’s more befitting than having its name decked street-sign-style? Look in and you’ll notice limited seating inside: A quaint corner with wooden crates for seats and some bar seats beside the counter. But what greets you at the door besides the day’s specials is a fortunate “More Seats Upstairs”. Phew.It’s true. At Drury Lane, you pay as much or as you like for those muffins. While this does give them great feedback against other muffin competitors out there, I believe we should be gracious and pay a decent amount, unless of course they were that bad.While I unfortunately did not get good shots upstairs, it was definitely the more popular level of the two with its cosy attic-like feel. But it was just a fair bit too noisy for my friend and I, so we headed down instead. The downside though? You’ll start to smell like the day’s orders because of their open kitchen concept.What I ateI must say that neither the coffee nor my eggs benedict satisfied my raging tastebuds. The coffee ran a little thin for my liking and held an acidity that departed from comfort. For the eggs benedict, something just wasn’t right with the hollandaise sauce with its consistency more runny than thick. The three streaks of honey-cured turkey bacon you see? Not my thing because it was just so hard to bite into. If I’m being totally honest, they tasted like the local delicacy – ba kwa. My friend didn’t enjoy her order of baked eggs with tomatoes either. “They tasted like canned tomatoes.” (They probably were. And she’s more of an eat-fresh girl.)On the wholeIt wasn't the most pleasant brunch experience and I had to head elsewhere after that to settle my caffeine craving. But to be fair, my visit was some time in August and perhaps, just perhaps, the other items on their menu aren’t too shabby. And maybe they got better. A little bird told me their pancakes were ones to try, so I might return to give them a second chance. Probably just with caution.For more of my reviews, head to: http://www.aquaintsense.wordpress.com…Read More

At Block 463 of Jurong West St 41, walk past a minimart and a comic bookstore: You’ll find Kim Lotus Dessert and probably a long queue too thanks to its great desserts at reasonable prices. While you’re in the shop, you’ll feel transported to the 1990s with that metal counter and television raised up near the ceiling, usually with Channel 8 on display. The self-service system ensures you don't have to wait impatiently to get the server's attention though the queue does stretch a little far especially on weekend nights. Much to my dismay, they were out of Burbur Hitam and Mango Sago so we had ice cold servings of Cheng Tng and Burbur Chacha instead. Nonetheless, no disappointments there!Kim Lotus certainly doesn't stinge on the amount of sweet potato and yam in the Burbur Chacha ($2.20), or any other dessert for that matter. The ingredients were fresh and blended well with the coconut milk in the shaved ice, not to forget the tapioca pearls that add on to the colourful mix in the bowl. Light with just the right amount of sweetness, the Cheng Tng ($1.70) was refreshing and just perfect for a humid evening with such a generous amount of ingredients. It sure tasted as good as it looks.Some other desserts available: Gingko Nut Barley, Mango Ice Kachang (tried and would recommend) , Durian Ice Kachang, Aloe Vera Peach, Soursop, Honeydew Sago, Mango Longan, Tau Suan, Red Bean Soup, Chendol, Grassjelly Drink.…Read More

InteriorIt’s not difficult to fall in love with the interior of Five & Dime Eatery if its minimalistic exterior didn’t impress you even a slightest bit. I love how their chairs carry that pop of mint on the sides, breaking that almost synonymous hue of brown throughout the shop. Apart from their robustly chalked up black board menus hung up against the brick wall, my favourite spot has to be the white pegboard holding pairs of totes and frames.Menu/ Food & DrinksFive & Dime offers quite an exquisite array of cocktails, which seem to be quite the catch. But it was just past morning and we were looking more for a couple of perk me ups for that lazy Sunday morning — Coffee! But for the young at heart, there's nothing like a frothy Banana Milkshake complete with rainbow sprinkles on top, which tasted really good with the right amount of consistency!I’d only been to Five & Dime once before, for dinner, more than a year back but I distinctly remember how amazing their Mentaiko Pasta ($18) was. Definitely a must-try whilst you’re there. We were also recommended the Eggs Benny ($16), which didn’t disappoint one bit. The pair of poached eggs looked and tasted just about perfect, with a good and proportionate coat of hollandaise sauce going on.It might have been the eggs and warm brioche taking centre stage on the plate but the breakfast potatoes and fruit salad did put up a fair supporting act. I certainly appreciated the latter for the two mouthfuls of freshness to ease the heavy combination of egg yolk and hollandaise.On the whole, I adore the food and decor at Five and Dime in addition to its homey and wholesome atmosphere. My only qualm is its slight lack of convenience. Whilst there is a bus stop just opposite the building, the restaurant/cafe is a fair bit of a walk from the nearest MRT station, Somerset. Drivers needn’t worry about parking because the eatery has their very own car park just past the bright red gates on its left. It’s free too!…Read More

I’d only discovered the existence of dry ban mian about a year ago and I bum at the fact that it’s an uncommon find in most hawker centres and coffee shops. He Jia Huan Ban Mian sells a mean bowl with springy noodles, bagging chews that just hits the spot.The magical pool of gravy sits at the bottom of the bowl, so do remember to stir it up real good. Word of caution: Do not wear white whilst devouring this amazing load of ban mian. And if you do, be careful not to get any gravy splattered on your shirt like paint on a blank canvas. Also, the gravy can get a tad spicy so be warned!The gravy is quite the savoury delight, hitting salty, sweet and spicy notes all at the same time. Your tastebuds will be in for the ride and will probably thank you for that dinner.…Read More

A jewel to residents of Serangoon Garden and avid sportsmen of Burghley Squash & Tennis Centre, Bread King is masked by a deceptively simple and local shopfront and space, while producing some rather tasty breads baked with utmost quality. It seemed rather popular with several residents of the neighbourhood coming by to pick up bread for the home, some with bicycles and baskets ready to hold bags of freshly baked goods. Instead of taking a long 20 minute walk from Lorong Chuan MRT Station, you might want to take bus 317 and drop 11 stops later after passing the Burghley Squash & Tennis Centre on your left.You can choose your breads from 2 displays: 1) A hot oven display at the counter where a friendly service crew awaits your order with recommendations of their own, 2) A red pigeon-hole one on the right housing 9 different types of take-home breads such as large loaves of baguettes at $4.50 each, Muesli bread at $8.50 and a pair of Ciabattas at $4 amongst others like Rye and Brioche. A chirpy handwritten sign reads "Please let us help you!" So please, let them! Also available is freshly brewed coffee, of which I regrettably did not try. We had some freshly baked croissants and when I say freshly baked, I mean straight from the oven. At $3 a piece, it was pretty satisfactory, but my only qualm was that the insides were a tad too soft. A good croissant nonetheless! Flaky and buttery with soft tissue-like layers with every bite. Keep them in the paper bags provided though, or things might get messy. …Read More