What better way to spend a Wednesday afternoon than to take a nice long never-ending drive to the other end of Singapore for lunch. Well the plan was to check out Table Manners at Changi City Point (which was a serious maze to get to) but they were already closed for lunch by the time we got there. So we headed to Eggs & Berries next door!

It's a pretty place, all pink and brightly lit. The chairs reminded me of candy canes and my friend really wanted to take them home. But I guess what really set Eggs & Berries apart was their extensive menu and how affordable everything was.

We had the Pan Seared Smoked Chicken & Eggs ($10.70), a hearty portion of chicken, rosti, tomato, baked beans, salad, poached eggs and 3 mini buttermilk pancakes on the side. A good balance of savory and sweet in one meal. The poached eggs were nicely done but there wasn't much to shout about for the rest of the food. But hey no complains since the meal was pretty much a steal at $10.70 and definitely filling, especially after an hour's drive.

Pan Seared Smoked Chicken & Eggs ($10.70)

We also tried the Spicy Lamb Sausage & Eggs ($11.70) which was pretty similar, with the eggs scrambled and the sausage replacing the chicken. The pancakes were served with mini jars of chocolate, maple and strawberry syrup. I had quite a bit of fun mixing the syrups up.

Spicy Lamb Sausage & Eggs ($11.70)

Eggs & Berries is a casual place to hang out for a decent affordable meal. While it isn't the best all day breakfast place around, it does serve some pretty damn good eggs. But for someone who lives on the other side of Singapore, I'd probably head to Hatched for some eggs instead!


Eggs & Berries

While I'd swear by my sashimi anyday, Dee's not-so-guilty pleasure remains her classic makcik-style rendang! And so we found ourselves at one of her family favorites - Tambuah Mas at Paragon for some Indonesian. She was pretty much at home talking to the waiter like a long lost friend about our order. She took it upon herself to decide for me too, I didn't even try. Hell hath no fury like a woman interrupted at her favorite restaurant!

Tahu Telor ($9.00)

The Tahu Telor ($9.00) here is hands down the best we've tried. Also known as Indonesian beancurd omelettes, their signature dish is served with a savoury tomato-soy sauce and garnished with sliced green onions. The beancurd cubes were still soft and warm when we bit into the crispy egg batter mmm and the slightly sweet soy sauce was a great complement to the rest of the dish. Tahu-tower of heaven!

Chicken Satay ($7.50)

We expected a more authentic preparation of the Chicken Satay ($7.50) since they originate from Indonesia, but we realised that they didn't vary much from the satay we get from our local hawker centres. Nothing to complain though, tender meat moderately charred accompanied with a thick homemade peanut sauce.

Beef Rendang ($8.50) / Sambal Kangkong ($9.00)

For our veggies, we had Sambal Kangkong ($9.00)! This fiery dish had the right amount of belacan (shrimp paste) and well, I wish I could say the same for the oil. You could've guessed the number of red chillies used from the intensity of the red. 

And of course the much awaited Beef Rendang ($8.50)! Guess who couldn't stop smiling. Also known as Rendang Lembu, tender and chunky meat in a rich and aromatic gravy. Needless to say we stuffed ourselves with it!

Ikan Pepes ($6.00)

We both agreed Tambuah Mas serves the best version of Ikan Pepes ($6.00), or more commonly known as Otah. These seabass fillets were marinated in spice and grilled in banana leaves. Not too much of a fish paste, neither a leaf full of thick chunks of fish, we were pleased to unwrap the leaf to find well proportioned fish meat that was rich in flavour.





To no one's surprise, we were too full to try their famous Es Apokat, an avocado milkshake but with mocha syrup. A perfect quencher and dessert, this all in one glass of treasure is something we won't miss on our next visit! If you're craving spicy authentic Indonesian food you'd wanna head down to Tambuah Mas for that Rendang fix. But for couples who are looking for an intimate evening with Indonesian food, you might want to check out The Moluccas Room!


Tambuah Mas
290 Orchard Road
Paragon B1-44
Tel:+65 6733 2220

Opening Hours: Daily: 11:00AM - 10:00PM

So we popped by Arbite for a quick dessert indulgence. Indie cafes with quirky names like Wimbly Lu and Arbite seem to be quite the trend these days. Spent a good few minutes entertaining myself (and annoying Dee) with "We're going to Arbite for Arrrrr(Our) Bite" - I'd like to believe my sense of humor is acquired.

Dee had her obvious choice of dessert or rather what she'd say was the "best of both worlds" in one - Gula Meleka Tiramisu ($8.00). Topped with berries and served in a cute glass, this light and fluffy dessert was made up of a rich layer of gula meleka mascarpone and a dense base of sponge fingers that were soaked in liquor and coffee. Just the right consistency and sweetness, this dessert is definitely one of the better tiramisus we've tasted!

Gula Melaka Tiramisu ($8.00)

I settled for the Fruit Terrine ($7.00)! Layers of berries, bananas, citrus segments held together by a passion fruit jelly served with a delicious scoop of classic Vanilla ice cream. It was a light and refreshing alternative to the usual calorie-heavy desserts.

Fruit Terrine ($7.00)

I liked Arbite, white washed walls with random Lego bricks, unpretentious food and friendly waiters - it's a great place for a casual mid afternoon hang out. Even though we're not big fans of cakes for dessert, Arbite's famous My Wife's Chocolate Cake is one thing on the menu we'd wanna share when we're back again for brunch!




Arbite 
66 Serangoon Garden Way
Singapore 555962
Tel:+65 6287 0430

Opening Hours: Tues - Fri: 11:30AM - 10:30PM, Sat - Sun: 11:00AM - 10:30PM
(Closed on Mondays)

We decided to have some Italian at Spizzico Ristorante Italiano, post yoga/post Valentines, since it's tucked away from the usual hustle and bustle in town and the last thing you'd want is to bump into yet another couple with a huge bouquet and an abundance of balloons, teddy bears and chocolates. The place was a nice quiet escape for a romantic afternoon.

For our meal we used a Groupon voucher ($20 for $40 worth of Italian Cuisine)! Well we aren't usually keen on getting dining vouchers since past experiences have led us to believe that the serving size and quality of service is greatly compromised. But Spizzico was an exception - extremely efficient and friendly waiters serving up palatable dishes!

We were spoilt for choice with their comprehensive menu of salads and soups, pastas, pizzas, risottos and main dishes.

Prosciutto e Melone ($20.00)

The Prosciutto e Melone ($20.00) for our appetizer was a unanimous decision - simple, yet refreshing and perfect for the afternoon heat. The sweetness of the rock melon complemented the parma ham well. The last time we had proscuitto was at Etna Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria - a classic mix of parma ham with burrata and rocket salad.

Crab Meat and Prawn Ravioli ($24.00)

The Crab Meat and Prawn Ravioli ($24.00) was divine. A lovely dish of homemade ravioli covered in a creamy saffron sauce, accompanied with onions and sundried tomatoes. Did I mention the ravioli was heart shaped? Plus points for details! Dee wished they were more generous with the filling though; cause she felt full too soon from having plain dough for majority of the dish.

Crab Meat Linguine with Arrabiata Sauce ($20.00)

I opted to customise my pasta selection with a Crab Meat Linguine with Arrabiata sauce ($20.00). It was perfect for me, just the right amount of spiciness and generous servings of crab meat with garlic slices. I couldn't decide if their version was better than the one I had at La Nonna! Though the 1-for-1 lunch promotion at La Nonna makes it a tough contender.

We were eager to end the meal with sweet treats such as the Crème Brûlée or Tiramisu, but we were too stuffed by then. Contented with our meal, we'll be finding our way back to try Spizzico's Set lunch. Priced at just $14.50++, the set includes an appealing variety of starters, mains and desserts of the day. Besides who wouldn't want to spend a nice afternoon in a pretty Italian restaurant hidden away from the crowds!

Spizzico Ristorante Italiano
81A Clemenceau Avenue #01-13
UE Square
Tel: 6333 6174 / 6333 6833

Opening Hours: Daily: 11:30AM - 2:30PM, 6PM - 10:30PM

On a quiet Wednesday evening, I found myself at Koh Grill & Sushi Bar with an old friend (who also happens to love Japanese food). I love sushi, sashimi and wasabi. Okay I just added wasabi cause it rhymed but hey, I love my Japanese food - wasabi or not.

Located right next to Food Republic at Wisma Atria, this is a pretty small place for all the attention it's been receiving lately. We were there at about 5pm and managed to get seats at the counter, but it was still kinda crowded for a weekday.

Please do not leave the bar without ordering a plate of Shiok Maki ($16.80). This is, the mother of all makis. Grilled unagi and avocado rolled in seaweed, topped with lightly roasted salmon, drizzled in mayonnaise sauce, and an abundance of fish roe. You must get a taste of maki-heaven served on a plate.

Shiok Maki ($16.80)

We also had the Seafood Fried Rice ($10.00) and Black Cod Fish Soup ($14.00). The fried rice was decent, and I wouldn't mind having it again the next time, though it was a tad salty. I'd give the soup a miss though, it was pretty bland and I got bored of it quickly. Might trade the soup for Crappy Maki ($18.00), next time, since they're known more for their amazing makis.

Seafood Fried Rice ($10.00)

An affordable and casual Japanese sushi bar, Koh Grill & Sushi Bar might be my new go-to place for a quick sushi fix next time. But I'll probably head there early during the day since by the time we left, a really long queue had formed outside.


Koh Grill & Sushi Bar
435 Orchard Road
#04-21 Wisma Atria Shopping Centre
Tel: 91803805

Opening Hours: Daily: 11:30AM - 10:30PM

Turned out we had some time to kill before Ang Lee's Life of Pi and as usual, we popped by the nearest cafe to laze around for a bit with some breakfast for lunch (cause saying brunch just isn't as fun). The service was probably as long as the movie. Okay I kid. But hey it was pretty slow that day, could be a busy weekday afternoon.

I've always found the interior and deco of Pique Nique to be a tad quirky - the brick walls, the hanging lights, mismatched furniture and the tiny jar of soil found on each table. The outlet at JCube is much bigger and cosier. So we decided to go with the Farmer's Omelette ($12.80) and the Eggs Ben for Dee - she's in a poached eggs phase.

Farmer's Omelette ($12.80)

The presentation of my three egg omelette could have been improved, but that was made up for once I cut through it to reveal a hidden gem of bacon, sausage, potatoes, mushroom, onions and tomatoes! I was pretty satisfied.

Eggs Benedict ($12.00)

As for Dee, she's easily contented with her Eggs Benedict ($12.00) as long as the eggs are cooked to perfection: yolk is runny and oozes all over and soaks the English muffin underneath. Runny egg yolks - check! While Prive remains close to her heart on the Eggs Benedict chart, these weren't too far from the top. The steamed ham was pretty bland though, nothing special.

Hot Iron Waffle with Maple Syrup ($11.80)

The best part of Pique Nique? Hot Iron Waffle with Maple Syrup ($11.80). Made upon order, this was warm and crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. The homemade vanilla ice cream was a perfect complement and delicious on it's own - creamy and silky smooth, you could even see the vanilla pods! I've been there thrice, just for the waffle, yes it's that good.




Pique Nique's a pretty nice place to head to for some after meal dessert, their cupcakes and coloured macarons are a definite visual treat and their waffles are easily one of the best we've had!


Pique Nique
#B1-01 Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Ngee Ann City Tower A
391A Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6238 6705

What better restaurant to find at the mezzanine level of Grand Hyatt hotel, than Mezza9 itself! The place offers an interesting upscale dining experience in an otherwise casual and laid back ambience. We chose the Set Dinner ($79.90), which allowed us to customize our menu from their array of international cuisines.

Complimentary bread with tomato dip

For starters, we were each served a warm Blue Swimmer Crab Cake with Remoudale sauce (similar to Tartare sauce). These balls, in the style of cutlets, were breaded and fried to give a crispy coat that was an absolute delight to bite into. Evidently I was too engrossed in them that I missed a shot of their signature appetizer. A great start to dinner, I secretly wished they'd serve us a second round!

Along with the crab cakes, we had Smoked Scottish Salmon which was beautifully garnished with chopped egg, herbs and sour cream. This dish was not only aesthetically pleasing, but tasted good too.

Smoked Scottish Salmon

From the Japanese cuisine, we ordered 8 skewers of Assorted Yakitori which included Beef, Chicken-leek, Chicken meat ball, Chicken wing, Pork-belly onion, Tomato-bacon, Sword fish-chilli and Smelt fish. These were marinated in Yakitori sauce, a type of sweetened soy sauce, which perfectly complemented the grilled meat. My favourite was the good ol' chicken meat ball, which were of decent sizes and seasoned generously with pepper.

Assorted Yakitori

For the main course, we had Wok fried rice with shrimp, Hong Kong kai lan, Steamed Seabass fillets with ginger paste and orange peel, and Wok fried chicken with cashew nuts and dried chillies. The chicken was similar to the dry chilli chicken preparation from a hawker center, except sadly this one had more dried chillies than the meat itself. And what's a fusion cuisine without lamb rack! So we ordered some Char-grilled lamb rack with buttered asparagus and parmesan. The meat was done medium-rare and had too much fat for my liking.

Steamed Seabass fillets

And now to the best part of dinner - the desserts! I was seriously spoilt for choice, but my favourite was the Vanilla & Praline Mille-feuille topped with assorted berries. This popular French dessert was made up of alternating layers of puff pastry and whipped cream, and when tasted, a silky smooth custard and a burst of berry flavours pushed all the right buttons for me.

Vanilla & Praline Mille-feuille

The Chocolate Fondant with coffee sauce is a match made in heaven for real chocolate lovers. With a thin crust-like chocolate outer coat and a soft centre of rich molten chocolate, this warm dessert was sure to send off enough endorphins to keep me happy for the night.

Chocolate Fondant

Next in line to tingle my tastebuds was the Granny Smith Apple Crumble with custard sauce and Tahitian Vanilla bean ice cream. The apple pie which was served in a ramekin had a delicate cinammon crust in the shape of a dome, and the custard sauce was served separately in a shot glass. Unfortunately, the dessert had me embarrassingly licking the sweet custard off the spoon to neutralize the taste of the sour apple crumble.

Granny Smith Apple Crumble

Banana & Passionfruit Crêpe

AND THERE'S MORE. Mango, raspberry and chocolate Sorbets, for the reduced guilt pleasures in life. Served elegantly in a martini glass, the sorbets came with a cripsy chocolate coated wafer in between them; well I guess they have their ways in just throwing in extra calories. The flavoured sorbets were refreshing and a perfect wrap to the feast.

Sorbet

With its dim lights and lovely setting, Mezza9 is the place you'd wanna bring your date to impress, though be prepared to keep your wallets full to maximize the experience here. I wouldn't mind going back again (with Su this time) to savour their famed cakes over a cosy afternoon tea!