When it comes to the world of alcoholic spirits, I’m a very boring drinker. I prefer drinks that don’t taste like alcohol. Daiquiris blended with lumps of fresh pineapple, caipirinhas muddled with lime and spoonfuls of raw sugar, or sour-lemon margaritas (sans the salt) are a few of my favourite tipples. So I was not expecting to enjoy Gin Journey as much as I did.
One dusky Sunday in late October, I found myself sampling wine and having a good ol’ natter with Corrine, the idyllic brains behind Druggists. Now, most craft beer lovers in Singapore will be familiar with Druggists. They will also be scratching their heads… wine tasting? At a beer joint? Well yes, but allow me to start from the beginning.
In Japanese, Omakase means to “leave it to the chef” and when done well, it is an enchanting experience. Mizuya Omakase restaurant has just opened its doors in Farrer Park. Since I am a big-time Japanese foodie, of course, I raced to try it! The Mizuya experience was a beautiful showcase of the freshest, most imaginative plates of sushi and sashimi and reflecting the grace and skill of the chef.
Why is rivalry an indisputable element of human nature? To be human is to want to compete against others. There are all sorts of rivalries but none are so exciting – yet conflicting – as national rivalries! Australia vs New Zealand, England vs Scotland, Singapore vs Hong Kong, Italy vs France… Japan vs Korea!
The juicy burgers at Black Tap have often been a comfort to me. I’m an emotional eater and when I have a bad day at work I like to gorge on fried food and gulp down sugary drinks. Black Tap is the ultimate mall-grade restaurant for emotional eaters because they have calorie-worthy food.
In Raffles Place, a café is not judged by the quality of their coffee but rather by the prices they charge and whether there is ample seating. You see, the CBD is all about the perfect coffee meeting. Quite often for newbies to the area, the price of a new friend or business connection is a cup of coffee at Raffles Place. Read on to learn about my favourite coffee haunts in Raffles Place.
I love roasted duck. The fatty flavours, the juicy meat, the crispy skin… mmmm. What’s not to love? The most delectable duck I’ve had the pleasure to savour in Singapore is Irish roast duck! Duckland restaurant is my new go-to place for all things related to duck in Singapore.
I miss being able to enjoy a few quiet drinks at my local pub. The concept of a neighbourhood bar is not very popular in Singapore. I mean, it is a small country after all and it doesn’t take long to jump in a taxi and head to Robertson Quay. Nonetheless, I have been seeking out all the possible places to enjoy a good cocktail or glass of wine in my area of Farrer Park. While it is slim pickings, there are a few cool places to enjoy an alcoholic beverage for those of us who do not like drinking beer!
Haikee Brothers is a new fast-service restaurant that has recently opened its doors in China Town Point. Their specialty is roasted soy chicken and I must admit, their chicken is very tasty. The soy chicken ramen particularly is a stellar dish! However even the most laid back diner will not be prepared for the shockingly bad customer service at Haikee Brothers. Visit once for the cheap and cheerful chicken dishes but this place is unlikely going to be a favourite.
I went to Bintan for the first time recently and while the sightseeing was good, my culinary experiences at Kelong Ciuyong were the most remarkable. But to begin with, I do hope I have got the name of this place right. The signpost outside the restaurant reads “Welcome to RM Ballond ALIM Seafood” but the menu header reads “Kelong Ciuyong Seafood Restaurant.” Whatever the place is called, it really is one of the best seafood dining experiences in Southeast Asia and is fantastic value for money.
Fook Kin is the kind of place that I would take my mum to. They do Chinese roasted meats in a trendy-looking and air-conditioned shop along the exclusive Killiney Road. My mum likes to know what is hot and what is not, but she also cannot take the heat of some of the older, airless hawker centres. Whilst I must admit, Fook Kin do the best char siew in all of Singapore, I personally do not believe in paying top dollar for roasted meats. A few of their dishes are also a little hit-and-miss.
I only started my healthy eating journey about four weeks ago, but ever since going keto I’ve been discovering all sorts of interesting places to shop and eat in Singapore. Mahota is the first in a long list of incredible finds that I’m excited to share with you!
Before I moved to Southeast Asia I had always considered Indonesian cuisine as unhealthy and unimaginative. My limited views were coloured by a family holiday to Bali, many years ago, where we ate copious amounts of sticky chicken skewers covered in glutinous peanut sauce. But Indonesian food is more than just satay and peanuts. In fact, most people do not appreciate that satay refers to the preparation of meat on skewers rather than peanut sauce.
Easy Noodle is a bittersweet yet welcome sign of gentrification to Farrer Park. It is the first respectable restaurant with nice cutlery that serves proper alcohol (i.e. not beer) along Jalan Besar. Although I am a rabid anti-capitalist, I secretly admit I am chuffed about this new addition to the neighbourhood. Sure, it is an indicator that rents are probably on the way up but, on the other hand, there is finally a decent restaurant near my house that is worth slapping on a bit of make-up for.
Foodie w/o name: Hi. Also found this by accident a few weeks ago when I was walking down Jalan Besar! Loved the chunky…
Carole: I look forward to trying this place on my next trip to Singapore
I am so excited to be writing about Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodle, a newish noodle shop located in China Town Point. Although the name “Tongue Tip” is a little off-putting for a Western like me, the noodle soup here is incredible. So much so that stopping for a delicious bowl of beef noodles in China Town, after a bit of reflexology, is now a firm part of my routine. More →
Good coffee on Gili Air, a remote island of Indonesia; you’ve got to be kidding… right? I was actually surprised by the number of great cafes and brunch spots on this Gili island. Cafe hopping is a very real and popular pastime here, in between island hopping, swimming and snorkelling. A lot of the cafes have an all-natural vibe to them, to appeal to the boat loads of SWOF (skinny white organic females) that travel solo to the island for yoga. That’s a big plus in my book! Here is a run down of my favourite coffee spots on Gili Air.
If you want to drink your expresso right on the beach then Mowies is the place for you! Admittedly the coffee is not great, but it is good. By that I mean, it is definitely drinkable albeit pussy-willow-weak. I like my coffee milky anyway.
Mowies also have some great toasted ciabatta sandwiches, which are good to eat for breakfast or for lunch. I ordered a smoked salmon, sundries tomato and blue cheese toastie, substituting the ciabatta for wholegrain bread. It came with a delicious side of hand-cut, golden brown fries. This is breakfast on the beach at it’s almost best!
The name “Breadalicious” nearly scared me away, because I’m currently on a low-carb diet. But I’m glad I overcame my fear and ventured inside. Hands down, I had the best coffee on Gili Air at Breadalcious. It was a little slow to arrive, as the barista took great pains to craft the perfect cafe latte, but it was deliciously creamy yet strong.
My worst fear came true and I also succumbed to the temptation of bread whilst visiting here! They have a great selection of fresh breads and you can make your own sandwich. I ordered a warm wholemeal roll with feta cheese. Take a seat in their outside courtyard and enjoy some coffee, bread and their awesome Spanish playlist!
Gili Bliss is the chicest place on the island, decorated exclusively in pink and white hues to pay homage to all the yogi goddesses on the island. Heart throb pineapple-shaped pot plants with budding pineapple crowns dot each table. You just have to come here, if not for the pretty-in-pink decor, then for the spectacular brunch menu. I ordered poached eggs on smashed avocado and wholegrain thick-sliced bread, which was totally Instagram-worthy! The eggs were cooked to perfection although the avocado was a little slushy.
Gili Bliss is also famous for their smoothies and smoothie bowls. I ordered a Brown Lady, which was a blend of raw chocolate, organic peanut butter, banana and coconut water. It tasted like a healthy version of milo! The smoothies are huge and constitute as a meal in themselves.
The location of Coffee & Thyme is pretty awesome, situated just by the pier. It is the perfect place to grab a cuppa whilst waiting for the ferry. The coffee is on the weaker side, but nonetheless they make a respectable cafe latte replete with some coffee crema and coffee art. Their signature drink is a thyme latte, which comes with a dash of thyme syrup.
It is worth having breakfast here too. Their menu has a plethora of Western brekkie choices, from pancakes through to simple toast and jam. As I was on a low-carb diet, I ordered a classic cheese omelette with toast. I was slightly disappointed that they did not have wholemeal bread so I had to suck-it-up and eat white toast. At least the omelette made up for it – fluffy, soft and cheesy!
B52 is a small yet very popular cafe. They do coffee and tea and they do it really well. No fancy smoothies, milkshakes or cold-pressed juices in sight here. But, you can order a classic chocolate milk highball, which is sure to remind you of childhood memories.
The breakfast menu is also simple yet good. They make their own sourdough bread on-premise each day and cook up the best peppered sautéed spinach I have ever tasted. If you order eggs, they come with a side of delicious, crumbly feta cheese.
Come to the Good Earth Cafe if you want to be kind to yourself. Everything on the menu is natural, organic and vegan. Their specialty is coconut coffee, which is essentially muggy-black Lombok coffee with a dash of coconut cream – I don’t recommend drinking it, but kudos to them for trying to revamp the local brew to appeal to tourists. Their home-made banana bread is a treat in itself. It is densely packed with loads of healthy grains, topped with nut butter and fresh banana slivers. But the best thing here are the fresh juices and smoothies. They come in trendy glass jars with bamboo straws that are so environmentally chic right now. The dragon fruit and pineapple juice was my fave.
Happy cafe hopping on Gili Air and feel free to let me know about more good coffee on Gili Air in the comments box!
hihi: Hi, Just came across your blog. I was at Gili T last year but I could have enjoyed Gili Air…
Like most city workers, the toughest part about my job is deciding where to go for lunch. After two years of working in Raffles Place, I have developed a love-hate relationship with the area. There is a lot of crappy and overpriced food here but if you are willing to walk the extra mile and sample a few burnt toads, then it is possible to find edible food for lunch.
Lunch is the highlight of my day and I always try and spend under $10 unless it is a special occasion, in which case I might splash out on a $15 lunch. If my meal does not taste delicious, it can throw me into a terrible temper. For that reason, I have created the following guide to grabbing lunch in Raffles Place, which includes everything from Malay and Chinese food options, to Japanese and Western cuisines. Makan!
go to this site: Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing a little research on that. And he actually…
Yuji: This list is okay but a bit disappointing to see there are no Korean or Malay options on your list.
Sandra: Haakon might be new but the salads fail to live up to expectation... my prediction - it lasts for about…
There are a lot of hawker stalls in Farrer Park but none of them can really be classed as great; except the 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist. In fact, amazing is probably a better descriptor. I have no hesitation in saying they serve the best Wanton Mee and roasted pork belly in Singapore.
UZ: Luv the place too. Have been living in Farrer for half a year and it’s definitely one of my go…
Seasoned foodies and penny pinchers know the secret to buffet dining – skip the carbs, stews and curries and load up on the expensive stuff. And that is exactly what I told my auntie when we went for brunch at the Colony restaurant in the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Now, buffet dining is very popular in Singapore but it can be tough to get it right. No single chef or restaurant kitchen can be the expert on preparing multiple cuisines and meal-types. That is why unlimited alcohol and high quality ingredients are integral to the success of a buffet.
There is plenty of good food in Farrer Park, you just have to know where to find it. In 2018 I found some real foodie gems in and around Farrer Park, from authentic Chinese dumplings and sautéed eggplant to dukkah sprinkled avocado on toast and hand-pulled Muslim noodles. Please enjoy my 2018 foodie roundup and top 10 places to eat good food in Farrer Park.
Yuji: As someone who also lives in the neighborhood, I do agree with you on a few places listed. Hand in…
The Japanese believe that you eat with your eyes first. Japanese meals are always carefully arranged on the plate and bright colours and garnish help to enhance their appearance. Condiments are served in delicate pots and ramekins whilst attractive chinaware and chopsticks help to frame the dish. The Japanese also believe in good, quality ingredients above all else. Most recipes are designed to maximise the natural flavours and textures of fresh produce and therefore the cuisine is notorious for its lack of spices and complex seasonings. Why would you spoil a nice piece of fatty tuna with too many sauces and oils after all?
During my recent trip to Japan, I had every intention of splurging on a special Wagyu steak dinner. Wagyu is the generic term given for Japanese breeds of cattle, however the meat is well regarded for its tenderness, superior fat marbling and buttery taste, which is the result of strict guidelines for rearing and feeding the cattle. There is no one single region of Japan that produces premier Wagyu however as I was visiting Hokkaido, the unofficial foodie capital of Japan, I planned to have my special steak experience here.
There are many hidden foodie gems along Jalan Besar Road and when I walked past Xiang Yuan Ji Shanghai Pan Fried Dumpling I thought this was another one of them. The menu looked fantastic, boasting many Shanghai favourites like pan-fried soup dumplings, scallion oil noodles and braised eggplant in brown sauce. I was excited to discover a new place in the area.
The biggest challenge faced by workers in Raffles Place is where to buy a healthy lunch for under $7. I have been investigating this issue for more than a year only to come to one conclusion. The only way to eat a healthy lunch for cheap in Raffles Place is to go for Yong Tau Foo. Fortunately, there are three reputable Yong Tau Foo spots in the city although unsurprisingly they all have long queues at lunchtime.
I have never devoured chicken so tender and soft before discovering Hawker Chan’s humble soya sauce chicken rice and noodle stall in Chinatown. As a general rule, the hawker stall with the longest queue typically has the best food and this principle has served me well living in Singapore. That was how I discovered Hawker Chan. As is my usual Saturday morning tradition, I was browsing the Chinatown Food Complex looking for some lunchtime inspiration. I still hadn’t had my morning coffee and I carried a slight headache after a few too many wines the night before. I was also very, very hungry.
Do you know the hardest thing about being a food blogger? It is keeping the calories at bay! However now that Haritts donuts and coffee from Tokyo has come to Singapore they have made my sugar addiction just a little bit easier to handle. Haritts Japanese donuts taste lighter than traditional donuts and are lower in calories.
A popular way for locals to spend lazy weekends in Singapore is to head for a fresh seafood lunch at East Coast Village followed by a stroll along the beach. Visiting East Coast has been on my list of things to do for quite some time since moving to Singapore and honestly I felt like it was a daunting task. East Coast is not so easy to access as there is no MRT station or major bus depot, and the area is quite huge by Singaporean standards and densely populated with residential buildings, eateries and shops. However when I finally made it here I enjoyed an addictive combo of eating, walking and inhaling the fresh sea air.
After a year of searching, I have finally found the best laksa in Singapore at 波东巴西146 佳加. I have no idea what this joint is called in English, except it is also referred to as Sam Wei Food, and I don’t care either. All I know is that it is a stone’s throw from my house and for just $5 I can get a bowl of some of the best laksa soup I have ever tried in my life.
Eric: Just came across your blog page when I was just looking for a decent dinner place for roast duck! I…