Review – DanielFoodDiary.com

It is not common to see BOTH Straits Times’ food gurus Wong Ah Yoke AND Tan Hsueh Yun going to a restaurant on their personal basis (ie not media tasting) AT THE SAME TIME. (I wonder if they saw each other. The restaurant was crowded but I think I saw them.)

This could have been a restaurant’s best opportunity, or the kitchen’s worse nightmare.

The Peranakan just opened at Claymore Connect (the revamped mall opposite Orchard Towers), and is likely to attract many families who are longing for this nostalgic taste of Straits Chinese cuisine.

I grew up eating my grandma’s and aunties Peranakan dishes and so longing for some authentic taste.

Don’t play play. The Peranakan spans 3000 square foot, can sit 130, and Executive Chef Raymond Khoo (Tong Shui Café, 3 Monkeys, Rasa Singapura Macau) helms the kitchen.

The décor, space and size can be considered jaw-dropping in Singapore… the flowers, the prints, the tiffin carriers, the crockery, and THE CHANDELIERS.

They possibly bought every single chandelier available was from the lighting shop and more. I’m gonna swing from the chandelier…

There are most of the Peranakan favourites available here, from Kueh Pie Ti ($20), Ngoh Hiang ($15), Itek Tim ($7), Nonya Chap Chye ($15), Petai Kicap Manis ($12), Nasi Ulam ($15), Ayam Pong Teh ($17), Beef Rendang ($19), Ayam Sioh ($17) to the quintessential Ayam Buah Keluak ($19).

Other than the ala carte orders, there are a few other interesting options: The Tok Panjang ($45 or $65 per person) which is supposedly a super bagus smorgasbord of favourite dishes served in rattan baskets; a Six-Course Degustatio Menu ($85 per person, minimum six persons); and Chef’s Table ($188 or $288 per person with wine pairing).

For the chef’s table, an advance seven day reservation is required.

Perhaps it is a case of a crowded restaurants meets opening week jitters, the food was surprisingly not on par to expectations.

I only say this because I was seated squeezed smack between two tables, and the other diners just. could. not. stop. complaining.

”Bo ho chiak.”, “Why so cold?”, “So sayang the food…”, “The other XXX restaurant much better… Bibik not happy, I guess.

Let’s start with what I like: The sambal belacan is one, the Sup Bakwan Kepiting ($9) – crabmeat ball soup with bamboo shoots is the other. The broth was light yet tasting, the balls packed full of meaty goodness. Homely and comforting dish.

The Nonya Chap Chye ($15) essentially had the flavours, but the vegetables overall needed to be cooked much softer.

The next table who ordered the Tok Panjang questioned “Why everything cold ah?”, and I didn’t really quite expect the Ngoh Hiang ($15) supposedly deep-fried to arrive well… I won’t use the word “cold”, but the pieces were just not even warm.

I returned the dish. It returned heated up. Much better. (If you are wondering if they replaced the dish, or gave me the old one, it was the later. I counted the pieces.)

The Malacca Teh Peng ($5) served was diluted (I think you can tell by the photo). At this price point, you would expect something better.

Nothing beat the feedback from the uncle right next to me. He was about 70 plus, came with his family, and when his daughter asked how was the food.

His reply was classic, “Wasted calories.”

I do not think it was to that extent THAT bad. After all, there are some positive reviews online, and it was perhaps just not their day.

Anyway, I saw the ST food journalists there. Certainly one of them will write something. So let’s just wait what they have to say.

The Peranakan
422 Orchard Road, Orchard Hotel – Level 2 Claymore Connect, Singapore 238879
Tel: +65 6262 4428
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm

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Friends scream for “Sakuma” all the time, while I think I must have had the cronut of my life here. (Sorry Dominique Ansel.) Devon at Danks is quite the bomb if you are looking for a café full on in terms of the unexpected.

Located on the former site of Danks Street Depot at Waterloo, Devon on Danks is the second outlet after Devon Café at Surry Hills became so popular.

The space is three times larger than the former, can sit 90, but is still perpetually packed. Some menu items differ for both branches.

As one of the Hillsong Church campus is located right opposite, you can be sure that the weekends are filled with happy people full on grace.

Owner Derek Puah and head chef Zach Tan (previously of Guillaume at Bennelong and Pier) helm the place, alongside pastry chef Markus Andrew with a resume from both Adriano Zumbo and Le Cordon Bleu. Zzzzzzumbo.

Chef Tan is from Penang Malaysia, one of those places that offer the best street food ever, and you may see ice cream flavours of pandan and kaya at Devon.

Devon has a fine-dining approach to casual cafe food. The menu is one page of everything.

That includes the signature Breakfast with The Sakuma’s (AUD$25) – that is miso grilled king salmon, Breakfast Burger (AUD$16) of crumbed field mushroom with brisket, Yogi Bowl (AUD$15) filled with healthy stuff like mixed quinoa, yoghurt and grains, Homemade Bruschetta (AUD14.50), Cronnies (AUD$6.50), Truffle Soft Seve (AUD$5) and the DD Special of soft serve with hot chips.

A friend had 4 Sakumas in a week. 4! That is enough Omega 3 there.

The famed Sakuma contains miso grilled king salmon, smoked eel croquette, 63 degrees egg, radish petit salad and kewpie mayonnaise.

EVERYTHING just works in their flavour, I mean favour.

The chunky, fresh, smooth, well-seasoned salmon which melted in the mouth, the smoked eel croquette lightly crispy and with smoky hints, and the perfectly cooked egg (which will create the those irresistible Instagram eggporn videos).

What’s with the Cronnies aka Cronuts ($6.50)?

The flavours change regularly, structured around 3 themes of Asian, traditional and contemporary. So you get anything from Milo, Black Sesame, Matcha, Pork Floss and Sweet Mayo.

We put it to the test and were delightfully excited upon hearing the crunch on the flaky outer layer (Disclaimer: we come from the incredibly humid Singapore, so many pastry items do not keep that sound.)

The inner layer soft, and flavours intriguing enough.

I do not have major complaints about the other items, from the Breakfast Burger ($16) filled with hash and soy braised Ranger’s valley Wagyu brisket in a milk bun, to the Soft Serve Sundae ($10).

Having Thai Milk Tea softserve in Sydney with cendol ingredients can be most disconcerting and deliciously- wonderful at the same time. The same question we keep asking, “Why don’t we have this back home?!” Okay, Singaporeans, don’t complain.

Creativity’s aplenty at Devon, and be prepared to be thrilled.

Devon on Danks
2 Danks St, Waterloo NSW
Tel: 02 9698 7795
Opening Hours: 8am – 3:30pm Mon – Sun (Kitchen closes at 3pm)
Google Maps – Devon on Danks

Devon Cafe
76 Devonshire St Surry Hills NSW
Tel: 02 9211 8777
Opening Hours: 7am – 4pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 3:30pm (Sat – Sun), 8am – 3:30pm (PH)
(Kitchen closes at 3pm)
Google Maps – Devon Cafe

The post Devon at Danks – One Of Sydney’s Best Cafes, With Asian Fusion Food & Flaky Cronuts appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

The humble Hong Kong Egg Waffle, otherwise called gai daan tsai 雞蛋仔, is a familiar street food made from sweet, egg-rich batter cooked in a hot griddle with round cells.

They found further Instagram fame when modern dessert shop Oddies Foodies placed them in tall cups, ice cream and all sorts of toppings, presented in an over-the-top fashion.

Egg Waffle becomes fashionable once more.

Fast forward a few years (haha), and you see these appearing in Singapore’s hipster cafes and kiosks. The irony: Not many are really from Hong Kong.

Here are 5 places you can have your Hong Kong Egglet Desserts in Singapore:

The Coffee Academics
Level 2, Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, Singapore 228209 (Orchard MRT)
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Thurs), 9am – 10:30pm (Fri – Sat), 9am – 9:30pm (Sun)

Salted Egg HK Egglet?! The Coffee Academics Singapore has launched 3 Egglet dishes – Hong Kong milk tea gelato with salted egg sauce, vanilla ice cream with matcha egglet, and berries with chocolate egglet.

The Signature TCA Egglet ($19++) contains crispy and eggy Hong Kong style egglet topped with Hong Kong milk tea gelato. The mango cubes didn’t fit in quite well though.

In terms of egglet texture, theirs can be considered one of the best ones around here.

Hvala Waffle Bar
313 @ Somerset #B3-50, 313 Orchard Road Singapore 238895 (Somerset MRT)
Opening Hours: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm

The Puffle ($7.90), which is a cup of vanilla bean soft serve topped with EGGLETs, and other toppings such as fruits, museli and sauces.

I did like the texture of the egglet – crisp, buttery soft, and goes well with the sauces. The weaker link I thought was the softserve, which I thought was still too sweet, especially when it would be drizzled with sauces.

Recommendation: Do share the sweetness and calories.

NICEDAY Taiwanese Desserts
Tiong Bahru Plaza #02-111A (Food Street), 302 Tiong Bahru Road Singapore 168732 (Tiong Bahru MRT) Opening Hours: 11am – 10:30pm

The Eggette Cup is one of the most affordable at $6.80.

Instagram-worthiness aside, the eggettes are freshly made (do be prepared to wait) and had almost perfectly shaped spheres, in the classic golden colour completed with crispy texture.

A scoop of green tea ice cream sat within with red bean. We just didn’t quite like the whipped cream and a cheap-tasting lady’s finger biscuit which didn’t go well with the combination.

Sprout
41 Duxton Road Singapore 089505
Tel: +65 5221 1227
Opening Hours: 10am – 8:30pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 7pm (Sat), Closed Sun

Salad bar Sprout offers Acai Banana Egglet Waffle ($11.90) during its teatime from 2:30pm onwards till sold out (about 5pm or earlier).

A HEALTHY dessert? This contains acai sorbert, banana, chai seed and egglet waffle that tasted like traditional steamed egg muffin.

The 1925 Microbrewery & Restaurant
369 Jalan Besar Singapore 208997
Tel: +65 6294 9215
Opening Hours: 10am – 12am (Mon – Sat) 10am – 10pm (Sun), Kitchen closes an hour before closing

Called The Beehive ($12), this egglet dessert is served drizzled with agave nectar and lemon zest and vanilla bean ice cream.

There are two tips of bourbon kaya dip and coconut gratin – which are really the best things on the board, especially the kaya which may get some drunk. Just kidding.

The egglet unfortunately had a dense, soggy texture. Not much carb, can be fluffier.

*Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape.

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Rayz Bistro has set itself to a promising set. A Halal eatery serving Western fare with a dedicated pastry line.

Location is around the familiar supper haunts of Selegie Road right opposite Rochor Beancurd. There is a carpark behind. Check, check, check.

Everything but the price.

While we understand there is a certain upscale-ness in this café-bistro, every single item could have been few dollars less.

That is in consideration that the setting and food are still quite ‘café-ish’ in standard, and there are many potential customers around (the schools, the hostels) who are students. Price-sensitive students.

For the mains, the Fish and Chips at $15 is probably the cheapest item. That is saying a lot.

The other items included Aglio Olio ($23), Penne Carbonara ($23), Chilli Crab Pasta ($26), Paella ($30), Braised Beef Ribs ($32), Spatchcock Morrocan Style ($32), Rack of Lamb ($35), Rib Eye Steak ($35). These are ‘town prices’

We almost wanted to order some Garlic Bread, but stopped when found out it cost us $9.

For appetisers, we had the Crispy Wings ($14 for 6) which tasted suspiciously like those-typical-wings-from-the-same-supplier. We were told they were homemade, and marveled at how close they actually tasted like CP’s.

The wings rested on an orangey-red romesco sauce which was said to contain ingredients such as turmeric and tomato.

Interestingly, the sauce did little to lift the flavours up, and a slant towards either tangy tomato or Spanish peppery, could have better helped.

I liked some of the other mains. The Chilli Crab Pasta ($26) with generous servings of jumbo crab meat and trout roe, complete with a flowy poached egg, was tastily spicy.

Two friends felt it was somewhat over, but it was what that would make Rayz different from Cafes A, B and C.

With that said, I am not that inclined to pay $26 for this.

Rib Eye Steak ($35) with sweet potato fries was decent; while the recommended Spatchcock Morrocan Style ($32) came a tad undercooked with weird-tasting couscous.

Rayz Bistro’s mission is to serve premium halal food made enjoyable with delightful service. I do think that it can perhaps focus more on what it is potentially strong at – bolder Asian flavours.

Additional note: During the Ramadan period, Rayz will offer $59+ sets which includes a salad/soup, main, coffee/tea, Rayz Special Coconut Blast, complimentary Bubur Ramadan and dates. It also comes with items from the Dessert Table by Dato’ Fazley Yaakob. (Available only on Fridays & Saturdays).

Rayz Bistro
100 Selegie Road Singapore 188308
Tel: +65 6352 6651
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Tues – Sun (Closed Mon)

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It was going all purple and violet on many food Instagram accounts in Hong Kong last year, when Japanese purple sweet potato desserts were all in the rage. Trends will typically take some time to reach Singapore.

So fast forward one year later…

Hong Kong franchise Small Potatoes Ice Creamery, specialising in Japanese purple potatoes (yam) soft serve ice cream, has opened at Novena Square 2.

Strange that this is known as Small Potato in Hong Kong, but Small Potatoes in Singapore.

The kiosk is at the basement next to Coffee Hive, and soft serve come in two basic flavours – Japanese purple potatoes from Kumamoto, and Japanese sea salt.

Toppings include caramel popcorn, crispy rice (that was not too crispy), green tea or soy bean warabi mochi, shiramata, azuki beans, purple yam sticks, and Japanese red bean Dorayaki pancake. Doreamon will love?

Prices are not overly friendly though. $5 for a cone, $5.50 for a small cup, stretching out to $9.50 for a Small Potato Party cup. It is SMALL all right.

Ask for a mixed flavour, and that will be $10.

(Photo credit: Nicholas Tan @stormscape)

We realised our Small Potato Party Cup ($9.50) did have a few ingredients going MIA (missing-in-actio), AFTER we left. No mochi, no purple potato sticks.

Went back to check with boss Faye Veronica (who is also a model and looks like Zhang Ziyi on her profil pic), she said, “It is NOT ME. Not me.” (then peered around with her eyes to see who had a guilty look). I did tell her in Mandarin 工人犯错，老板负责. Anyway, she offered a top-up for our next visit.

The good thing is the ice cream had a smooth texture, and was not overly sweet. With different textures of yam paste and the actual yam ‘colliding’ together with rich soft serve, the bite was rather enjoyable.

I actually preferred the Himalayan sea salt side.

Will this take off the same way it did in Hong Kong? I am not too sure. It is a pricey and SMALL cup.

Small Potatoes Ice Creamery
10 Sinaran Drive, Square 2, B1-131 Singapore 307506 (Novena MRT)
Tel: +65 6352 2661
Open: 11am – 10pm Daily

The post Small Potatoes Ice Creamery – Japanese Purple Yam Soft Serve From Hong Kong Now In Singapore appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

This is how it started. I met his wife in Perth. We were randomly seated beside each other in a dinner, a meal which I didn’t plan to go anyway. She said, “Come to my husband’s restaurant.” in a cheeriest way ever.

You know, in such a situation, most people would have answered a “Yes” only out of politeness, to a stranger who you only just met for 5 minutes.

I answered ”Of course!” and in my heart, actually made a silent plan to want to visit. She sounded American. But to be honest, I wasn’t sure who she was till I asked the other person next to me. And I GOOGLED.

Oh, Italy… Modena (where is that?!)… Osteria Francescana.

AND I WENT.

She is Lara Gilmore, wife of Chef Massimo Bottura.

He is now known to be behind the World’s Number 1 Restaurant, Best Restaurant In Europe.

The contemporary Italian restaurant in a humble, rather remote area of Modena was selected to be the best in the The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2016.

It has also 3 Michelin stars.

The restaurants on the 2016 list are picked by a total of almost 1,000 members of the industry, including restaurateurs, chefs, writers and gourmets.

So I took leave, flew, plus an overnight train ride from Rome Italy, to the tranquil town of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

The town is also known in culinary circles for its production of balsamic vinegar. Typical tourists visit Modena for Ferraris, the Pavarotti museum, and dine at Osteria Francescana.

I spent a couple of days at Modena, and enjoyed every moment. In life, you just need some time like this.

“In my blood is Balsamic Vinegar and my muscles are made of Parmigiano”. This is one of my favourite quotes from Chef Massimo Bottura. It is how he said that in an episode of Chef’s Table.

That gusto, that passion, that determination.

Something you may want to know. During the 2012 earthquakes in the Modena region, Chef Bottura worked hard with local producers to raise awareness of the situation which caused damage to millions of pounds’ worth of Parmigiana Reggiano.

He created the recipe of a ‘Risotto cacio e pepe’ dish during a “Parmigiano-Reggiano Night” in which all Italians partook of the same night. That action helped save a lot of cheese, and producers’ livelihood.

The World’s Best Restaurant 2016.

Italy is known to be a country where food cultures and dining experiences are mainly hearty, family-style, traditional.

To serve modern, contemporary Italian cuisine in a fine dining restaurant was a difficult path to take during the initial days. He eventually won critics over.

Osteria Francescana offers two tasting menus: the Tradition In Evolution menu (€180 SGD$275, €120 for wine pairing) which pays tribute to Italian ingredients, traditions and terroir; whilst the longer Sensations menu (€200 SGD306, €150 for wine pairing) includes seasonal expressions from the experimental kitchen.

The restaurant also offers an a la carte option alongside two tasting menus.

I had a special menu that day (€225) which included highlights from both menus.

In short, I much preferred the items from the Tradition In Evolution side (which seemed better thought through), compared to the Sensations (which could have been too experimental).

Some of the highlights: Lentils Are Better Than Caviar, Croccantino of Foie Gras, Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano, Sometimes Mallard Sometimes Partridge and Even Bollito, The Crunchy Part Of The Lasagna, and Opps! I Dropped The Lemon Tart.

Lentils Are Better Than Caviar – the name is self-explanatory. The dish was served in a caviar tin on crushed ice.

The lentils looked like caviar, even tasted almost similar to caviar, but the bite and textures were different. Beneath the lentils were crème fraîche, beets, and croutons, providing an additional layer of contrasting creaminess and crunch. Lovely.

This was the bomb. The Croccantino of Foie Gras was like a stick of roasted almond ice cream. But this contained foie gras terrine instead, and as you bite to the middle, flowed 50 year old aged balsamic vinegar (Modena is famous for balsamic anyway).

It was rich, smooth, creamy, intense with a crazy deep lingering Balsamic finish.

All that happened in such that one bite though, with that thrilled sensation getting up to my head and back.

The famous Five Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano of course. I have taken the follow description from FineDiningLovers as they describe it best – dish made up of a demi-soufflé made from Parmigiano that has aged 24 months; a mousse containing a mature product of 30 months; a liquid cream incorporating a product aged 36 months; a crisp wafer produced from a Parmigiano aged 40 months; and to top it all a “breath of air” deriving from a broth of Parmigiano rind taken from a special product that has undergone an ageing process of no less than 50 months.

I actually came for this, the dessert dish Opps! I Dropped The Lemon Tart which landed up to be the way it was served, well, by accident. But the components did not come by accident, including lemongrass sorbet, lemon sabayon, lemon grass, candied bergamot, mint sauce and naturally salty capers from an island just off the coast of Sicily.

Sorry I don’t have the best description for this, and I am just going to say… IT WAS SO GOOD.

In retrospect, I might have just picked the ‘original’ Tradition In Evolution as that is after all his ‘greatest hits compilation’.

The mixed menu felt lacking in a flow, and some of the newer dishes landed up in the realm of pretty-forgettable.

Having a meal at Osteria Francescana felt like a trip to a modern art museum.

Some dishes could be provocative (to the taste buds), some pieces you would glance and walk away; while there were a few that could get you thinking, and perhaps stay as a memory.

As a tip, while you are at Modena, do visit the sister restaurant Franceschetta58.

“I always advise young chefs to believe in their dreams. Impossible is Nothing.” Massimo Bottura.

Osteria Francescana
Via Stella 22, 41121 Modena
Tel: +39 059 223912
Email: info@francescana.it
http://www.osteriafrancescana.it

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999.99, otherwise known as Five Nines at Keong Saik Road, is a hidden gem which serves fine dining type of food at INCREDIBLY affordable prices.

The Japanese-European restaurant shows seasonal flavours and techniques with the essence of Japanese cuisine, with a quality 5-Course dinner at $59++.

A 2-course and 4-course set lunch goes for $19++ and $29++ respectively, and we are talking about mains such as the signature LOBSTER Gratin, Striploin Steak and Specialty Pasta.

At an area where mid-high restaurants dot the stretch of shophouses.

The name is a peculiar one, can you imagine “Hey, let’s go 999.99 for dinner”, but it symbolises gold in its finest form, the same way the restaurant would want to serve the best quality food.

Chef Masanao Saito (some say he is very handsome, sodesu ka?) was previously the Head Chef of the Japanese Embassy in Sweden.

He is known for marrying Japanese with French-style cooking techniques, with special attention paid to the quality of ingredients.

999.99 is an open kitchen concept, so you can sit at the counter and watch him at work. Note: He may seem rather shy at first, but can be quite chatty once he opens up.

Here is what you can expect from the 5 Course Dinner Menu (Do take note that items are seasonal, and subject to change.)

Course 1: Asparagus with Kalix Lojrom
Shrimp in a mascarpone, blanched asparagus, fish roe & yuzu caviar.

This worked as a beautiful starter, lovely plated and no-fuss. Let the crunchiness of the asparagus do the talking, while you can add a dollop of creamy mascarpone and touch of saltier caviar to enhance each bite.

Course 2: Scallops & Jus De Mer
Pan fried scallops, seafood broth, cypress oil & Brussel sprouts.

Chef goes for a lighter touch for most of the dishes, allowing the natural taste of the ingredients to surface through.

Course 3: Lobster Gratin
A whole Boston lobster in béchamel sauce & baked in shell.

I gather that this is the pièce de résistance of the 999.99, a whole lobster mixed with béchamel sauce, topped with cheese then baked till it is melted yet crisp.

As I dug past the top later, the lobster chunks were fresh and sweet, wonderfully coated in this medium-thick white creamy sauce. It was ‘The-Yums’, and I still cannot imagine that you could also get this for lunch affordably at $19++ with a drink.

OR Halibut & Carrot Ribbons
Pan fried halibut, thinly sliced carrots, burre blanc & kale.

I am slightly indifferent to this dish.

Course 4: Rossini
Tenderloin of beef with pan fried foie gras & sliced truffle, pomme puree, sautéed spinach.

The dish contains a pan-fried tenderloin of beef, topped with a hot slice of seared foie gras with pomme puree and spinach on the sides. It was decadent and satisfying, with the creamy foie gras providing a decent contrast with the lean beef loin.

OR Lamb & Eggplant
Pan fried lamb chops, eggplant puree, fried eggplant, pears, rosemary & horseradish jus.

The pan fried lamb chops were smoked in a canister just before serving, giving them additional flavour which blends well with a hint of sweetness from the pears.

Course 5: Pistachio & Mascapone
Pistachio sponge, mascarpone mousse, pineapple compote.

These are the different set meals available:

5 Course Dinner ($59++)
Asparagus with Kalix Lojrom, Scallops & Jus De Mer, Halibut & Carrot Ribbons OR Signature Lobster Grain, Main Course, Dessert of Pistachio & Mascarpone.

Choice of Main Course includes Tenderloin Steak, or Rossini (+10), Pork & Pea Puree OR Lamb & Eggplant.

Set Lunch ($19++)
Main Course with Soft Drink or Coffee/ Tea.

Choice of Main Course includes Lobster Gratin with salad and fries; Hamburger with salad and fries, 200g Striploin Steak with Salad and fries, Pasta (daily special) with salad and garlic bread.

4 Course Set Lunch ($29++)
Soup of the day, Tuna with Peach Salad, Main Course, Dessert of Lemon Granita & Mango Panna Cotta, with Soft Drink or Coffee/Tea.

Choice of Main Course includes Beef Tenderloin or Fish Broth.

In additional, some of the other highlights include the King Crab Croquettes ($13++), Raspberry & Chocolate ($9++) and Mangosteen & Lychee Sorbet ($6++).

As you can see, it is quite a still to have, a la carte plates start from $5 for starters, plated desserts start from $6 and even the five-course dinner is wallet-friendly at $59.

Possibly the menu for that romantic date night out, or casual gatherings with good old friends.

999.99 (Five Nines)
29 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089136 (10-15 min walk from Chinatown MRT, Outram Park MRT)
Tel: +65 6221 7098
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm last order 2pm, 6pm – 12am last order 11:30pm (Mon – Fri)
6pm – 12am last order 11:30pm (Sat – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/99999sg

* This post is brought to you in partnership with 999.99.

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[Hong Kong] Hong Kongers really love their Gudetama.

Right after Dim Sum Icon introduces Gudetama Dim Sum which saw ‘vomiting’ custard and ‘poop’ chocolate, Japanese food themed Gudetama Café by Izumi Curry, fast food chain MCDONALDS is in this as well.

So many of my friends are in love with this lazy egg yolk Sanrio character, who believes that some day he will be eaten.

Indeed. At McDonald’s.

The Gudetama promo items include the Breakfast Set offering items such as Grilled Champignons and Egg Deluxe Breakfast, BBQ McWings and Crème Brulee McFlurry.

McCafe also offers its own take with Bacon, Cheese and Egg Toastie, Crème Brulee Latte, and Crème Brulee Cheesecake.

For burgers, go for the Beef & Egg Fan-Tastic with Meat Sauce, or Chicken & Egg Fan-Tastic.(HK$28). Actually, there is nothing too ‘Gudetama’ about these 2 items except for the packaging and inclusion of egg.

My friend asked me for the taste. My reply, ”Like that lor”.

Okay, actually not too bad, except it felt heavy due to a rice patty. The egg was unfortunately on the dry side, but at least the patty retained the usual Asian-McDonalds-style-saltiness which gave it some taste.

There was at least some thought placed into the drinks.

The latte had the signature Gudetama faced on the whipped cream, which had this caramel crème brulee taste.

So destroy its face, and stir the yellow into the drink.

Special Gudetama Ceramic Bowls are also available, with a HK$39 top-up with any food purchase.

Tempted to go Hong Kong yet just for this?

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There are some restaurants you often see around, but seldom read about. Collin’s (also known as Collin’s Grille Bento) is probably of them, popular among locals for its extremely affordable and hearty Western cuisine.

No prizes for getting what the name of the founder is.

Chef Collin Ho has 15 years of experience in the culinary field, and his previous work in hotel restaurants helped hone his skills in Western food.

Do you know that there are 18 outlets of Collin’s – 3 restaurants and 15 coffeeshop stalls island-wide? WOW.

The advantage of having many outlets is that it helps to keep prices reasonable while still providing quality ingredients.

To continue to reinvent themselves, Collin’s has just released NEW Asian Fusion dishes featuring distinctive Southeast Asian spices.

The seasonal items include Asian Seafood Spaghetti, Summer Lime Seafood Salad, Crispy Asian Wings with Tomato Dip, Chicken Baked Rice with Cream Spiced Tomato Sauce, and The New Hawaiian! ((With A Taste of Asia) Pizza (mouthful name, I know).

These are will be available from now till July 31.

Click PLAY for video of New Hawaiian Pizza.

New Hawaiian! (With A Taste of Asia) Thin-Crust Handmade Pizza ($18.80) (Note: available at Shaw Plaza and Jubilee Square)
This is interesting. So instead of the usual tomato sauce base, Collin’s uses a South Asian inspired cream sauce, with a blend of ingredients such as turmeric, lemongrass, ginger, garlic and galangal.

The pizza is topped with roasted chicken slices, pineapple, tomato slices, a sunny-side up runny egg and arugula.

Firstly, I like the price. $18.80 for a pizza this size is good deal. Secondly, the pizzas are cooked using wood stone ovens, resulting in thin and crisp edges, doughy centre, with that added smoky touch.

The South Asian flavor makes the pizza taste appealingly local, almost like a particular type of curry.

Chicken Baked Rice with Cream Spiced Tomato Sauce ($10.50) (Note: available King George’s Avenue, Shaw Plaza, Jubilee Square)
My favourite among the newly released, probably want to have this again.

While the name is called…”creamed spiced tomato sauce”, the surprise element in the incorporation of rendang sauce within.

The flavours were not too heavy or spicy though, mild with sweet undertones. Some of us like to drizzle rendang sauce over rice. Now, imagine finding that taste infused within hot, piping baked rice, added with stretchy mozzarella cheese.

Asian Seafood Spaghetti ($10.50)
I am one who is all for more Asian-type pastas, and using more local sauce bases could spark off interesting combinations (like Bangkok’s cafes which is successful with their Tomyum pasta dishes).

Presented on banana leaf, the pasta arrived tossed in a light yellow cream sauce with generous servings of seafood like prawns, mussels and squid rings.

After taking a bite, I found this appetizing and familiar… reminding me in a way of creamy Amok curry I had in Cambodia. Especially when the sauce carried hints of turmeric and lemongrass.

If you have been to Cambodia, Laos or Vietnam, you may come across some curry dishes with a similar base, but Collin’s version less intense and more mass-friendly.

Summer Lime Seafood Salad ($7.90)
If you are bored with the typical salad dressings, this summertime inspiration is a tangy and gently-spicy salad laden with fresh crunchy prawns and squid rings. Quite refreshing.

Crispy Asian Wings with Tomato Dip ($5.90)
Not bad finger food. I wished the flavours were more pronounced for that ‘Asian-ness’ though.

The following items are included in the regular menu under Collin’s Gourmandise. Other than these, other popular choices include NZ Airflown Ribeye Steak ($15.50), Collin’s Mixed Grille ($$15.50), Baked Ocean Halibut Fish Fillet ($17.90), and BBQ Saint Louis style Roast Pork Ribs ($12.90). The prices are very attractive!

Half Roasted Chicken ($11.90)
For protein lovers, this is a free range half roasted chicken served with French fries and garden salad.

Lobster Thermidor ($27.90)
Whole Maine lobster with mushroom ragout, torched cheese au gratin, accompanied potato salad and fresh garden greens.

Fresh and chunky. Actually this is probably one of the most value-for-money renditions of Lobster Thermidor around, since it requires two Maine lobsters for the meat.

Actually, it is not typical to find Lobster Thermidor in a casual Western restaurant like this, and it is great to see more ‘upmarket dishes’ that are easy on the wallet.

Grand Marnier Orange Soufflé ($9.50)
Soufflé for $9.50? Bring it on. I wished the soufflé would have risen a cm more, but I am not complaining.

A light soufflé delicately flavoured with orange liqueur. (I sometimes like to drop my ice cream on soufflés, then take big scoops. The ice cream is served on the side.)

Other than King George’s Avenue, Shaw Plaza (Balestier Road), Collin’s newest restaurant at Jubilee Square will make the folks staying around Ang Mo Kio very happy.

One of my favourites is the restaurant at Shaw Plaza, as it offers handmade thin crust pizza baked from a wood stone oven.

For supper regulars, the good news is this branch is opened from 7am to 1am on Sundays to Thursdays, and 24 hours on Fridays, Saturdays and eve of public holidays. Great for early breakfasts (lunch and dinner), great for late-night suppers.

Colin’s
360 Balestier Road #01-12 SHAW Plaza Singapore 329783
Tel: +65 6250 9010
Opening Hours: 7am 1am (Sun – Thurs), 24 hours (Fri, Sat, Eve of PH)
https://www.facebook.com/Grillebento-519281068241915
http://www.collins.sg

Other outlets:
21 Hougang Street 51 #01-51 Hougang Green Shopping Mall Singapore 538719
159A Hougang Street 11 #01-02 Singapore 531159
203 Toa Payoh North #01-1097 Singapore 310203
306 Woodlands Street 31 #01-19 Singapore 730306
26 Jalan Membina #01-10 Singapore 161026
3 Saint George Road #01-67 Singapore 320003
6 Kaki Bukit Ave 1 #02-03 Singapore 417940
56/58 Lorong 25A Geylang Singapore 388248
217 Bedok North Street 1 #01-77 Singapore 460217
308 Clementi Ave 4 #01-335 Singapore 120308
501 West Coast Drive #01-244 Singapore 120501

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Collin’s.

The post Collin’s – Launches Asian Inspired Western Food! Opens 24 Hours During Weekends At Balestier appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Matcha desserts are THE MOST IN thing for Hong Kong cafes these few years. Possibly the must-go place for matcha fans. Via Tokyo serves Japanese desserts, pastries and soft serves made with Kyoto matcha powder and Hokkaido milk.

Interestingly, the very popular Via Tokyo is from Hong Kong, not Tokyo. BUT you know the desserts they serve are of reasonable good quality.

They opened their 2nd outlet at Tsim Sha Tsui and expanded on their cakes selection such as Uji Matcha Cheesecake and shaved ice Uji Matcha Espuma Kakigori.

The Japanese dessert cafe has proven to be very popular among the youths, so much so that there is always a line wee hours into the night. It is opened till 11pm or 11:30pm during the weekends.

(Photo credit: Nicholas Tan @stormscape)

Being one of the most searched dessert place on OpenRice Hong Kong at one point of time with their range of green matcha desserts, their Hojicha flavour desserts which are only available on Wednesday (known as Reverse Tokyo) are our favourite.
Rich, milky with distinct hojicha taste that lingers on our tongues.

If you want the best of three worlds, get the 3-flavoured Waffle Cup (HK$55) which also includes Royal Milk Tea soft serve and a mix of shiratama.

What I like about Via Tokyo is that they continue to reinvent themselves, and the seasonal Black Sesame flavour continue to be worth the calories.

Oh, the lingering unique taste of goma in smooth and creamy soft serve.

A cone goes for HK$35, while I had the Black Sesame Parfait (HK$62) which came complete with soft chewy mocha and irresistible red bean towards the bottom. I wished there were a notch less sweet, but my sense is Hong Kongers generally have a sweet tooth.

Via Tokyo TST
G/F, 29 Cameron Road Kowloon Tsim Sha Tsui (4-min walk from Exit B2, Tsim Sha Tsui MTR Station)
尖沙咀金馬倫道29號A地舖
Tel: +852 2385 6388
Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 11:30pm (Fri – Sat)

Via Tokyo Causeway Bay
Shop nos. 1A-1B, G/F., Leishun Court, 106-126 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
(Causebay MTR Exit F1, walk down Jardine’s Bazaar towards Pennington St, then Leighton Road. About 10 min walk)
銅鑼灣禮頓道106-126號禮信大廈地下1A-1B號舖
Google Maps
Tel: +852 28951116
Opening Hours: 11am – 10:30pm (Sun-Thurs), 11am – 11:00pm (Fri-Sat)
https://www.facebook.com/viatokyocafe

The post Via Tokyo – Now With Black Sesame Soft Serve, Another Outlet At Tsim Sha Tsui appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

The silicon ‘implant’ lookalike Raindrop Cake has become the talk on social media with its QQ, bo-ing, bo-ing, wobbly texture.

Originated in Japan and known as Mizu Shinken Mochi, the raindrop cake is not a cake.

Made from seaweed agar (a gelatin-like substance), it will dissolve into a puddle of “rain” within 30 minutes at room temperature.

What’s so special about it? Isn’t it just an agar jelly?

The texture of the Raindrop Cake is different as it dissolves and melts on the tongue, just like swallowing a raindrop.

The Raindrop Cake itself is tasteless, to mimic the taste of rainwater, accompanied by Kinako (roasted soybean powder) and brown sugar syrup by the side for additional flavours.

And this Raindrop Cake can now be found in Singapore at Soo Bing Bing, sharing the same compound as SYNC Korean Fusion Bistro at Westgate.

Soo Bing Bing offers 3 types of Raindrop Cake: Original ($4), Matcha Sauce ($4.80) and a DIY version ($6) with choice of 3 toppings.

Each Raindrop Cake was made on the spot within a minute upon request.

The Raindrop Cake here was wobbly and the texture resembled that of an agar jelly which didn’t really “melt-in-the-mouth”.

However, the version that we had in Johor Bahru City Square Yokosuka House did a better job at half the price and half the size though.

Soo Bing Bing
Westgate, 3 Gateway Drive #03-01, Singapore 608532 (Jurong East MRT)
Opening Hours: 5pm – 10pm (Sun-Thu), 1pm – 10.30pm (Fri-Sat)
https://www.facebook.com/Soobingbing-468030406735429/?fref=ts

* Written by Daniel’s Food Diary Cafe Correspondent Nicholas Tan @stormscape.

The post Soo Bing Bing – 1st Raindrop Cake Lands In Singapore At Westgate appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Hole in the wall coffee places are always appealing. This can be almost considered one.

The Alchemist opens at a corner unit of International Plaza in the heart of Tanjong Pagar. Blink and you may miss this coffee shop with white-washed walls and minimalist décor.

However, the perpetual lunch time queue will give you the indication that the coffee is probably more than respectable.

The Alchemist, which may remind some of Paulo Coelho’s best selling novel, is an off-shoot of Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters at Upper Thomson – which is also related to coffee roaster and cafe Pacamara at Thailand.

Prices range from $3.00 from an espresso, $4.50 for a white or black, to $5.50 for an Ice White.

Two blends were available when I visited – Dark Matter which was bold and nutty, or Luminous with floral and fruity pineapple tones.

Coffee is a very personal thing. I must say that was a very satisfying cup.

To take a short respite from the buzz of the CBD, to enjoy coffee that is bold, full of body, yet not unnecessarily bitter can be a very gratifying thing.

One of my favourite coffees in recent times.

Alchemist
International Plaza, 10 Anson Road #01-34 Singapore 709903.
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 3:30pm (Mon – Fri), 7:30am – 1:30pm (Sat), Closed Sun

The post Alchemist – Pacamara Opens Coffee Shop At IP Tanjong Pagar. And It Serves Good Coffee appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

The BetterField has moved from its previous location at Waterloo to the Treasury at High Street, taking over the previous SHATEC restaurant previously known as Charcoal / RECIPES Bistro.

I used to work opposite, and so am quite familiar with eating options in the vicinity.

The pros of The BetterField moving to The Treasury: Much larger space, increased visibility (at least quite near City Hall), and the impending temporary closure of Funan Centre would mean nearby office workers have less choices for mealtimes.

There are also no many ‘indie’ coffee places around the area. Plus, it is opened at 8am.

The cons: Diners around can be pickier than usual. Many lawyers (Supreme Court of Singapore is opposite) and executives do want to find conducive places for corporate lunches and good coffee, but they do have certain requests that need to be met.

The revamped BetterField looks like a canteen of sorts, despite being positioned as a bistro-café. Many electrical sockets around would have been beneficial, since it provides free wifi.

On the flipside, there is so much space it may give the impression of emptiness devoid of vibrancy. Music and decor play an important role – don’t ignore them.

During one of my visits near lunchtime, two customers were happily well… kissing and cuddling because simply nobody was around. Until I appeared.

A breakfast menu (available till 11am) is available, serving items such as Mentaiko Parsley Omelette ($14), Mushroom & Cheese Omelette ($12), Salmon Eggs Benedict ($16), Burnt Mentaiko Eggs Royale ($16), Truffled Mushroom Scrambled Eggs ($16), Modern Kaya Toast and Eggs ($8), and Roasted Beef Sunny Eggs ($16).

Food, is on the average side.

Lacked the oomph, both in terms of presentation, and taste. (I am using a different gauge from the average cafe. Since it is near town, people would have different expectations.)

A suggestion: To extend the breakfast to an All-Day, or at least beyond lunch. I understand that the kitchen may have limitations, but it would be a good-to-have.

Mains include Pulled Duck Burger ($21), French Duck Confit ($22), Mushroom Truffle Risotto ($22), and a selection of “premium selected beef” and spaghetti.

I have brought different friends over a few times, and we had the ‘I-don’t-know-what-to-order’ or ‘I-don’t-feel-like-ordering’ syndrome.

My sense is that the concept is caught in between. Not hipster or special enough to appeal to the café-hoppers; nor quality enough to attract customers with higher spending power.

The BetterField
The Treasury 100 High Street #01-03 Singapore 179434
Tel: +65 6694 2361
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)
(Hot kitchen closed from 3 – 6pm during weekdays)

The post The BetterField – Cafe Bistro Opens At The Treasury High Street. Opens From 8AM appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

The first name that comes to our mind when we mention matcha and houjicha products would probably be Tsujiri with a few outlets in Singapore.

The entry of Matchaya (抹茶屋 aka a place with matcha) at Icon Village will probably be a stronger contender to the Tsujiri outlet at 100AM due to their close proximity.

Matchaya first made an appearance at various weekend pop-up events in Singapore to “test water” before committing themselves to a physical shop.

Located at the extended (and ulu) wing of Icon Village, it is a takeaway kiosk (unlike the usual cafes) with a clean, minimalist, wooden shopfront (so Japanese!).

Not just limited to matcha (as their shop name implies), the menu is divided into the drinks (milk tea, ceremonial tea, clear tea, choco) and desserts (macaron, roll cake, toast, ice cream).

Ingredients are sourced from different prefectures of Japan. Matcha and Houjicha (roasted green tea) latte from the Kyoto prefecture, Royal Milk Tea from Hyogo prefecture and Kuromitsu (unrefined black sugar) latte from Okinawa.

It felt like we were touring the entire Japan, almost.

The Milk Tea are the only ones that come in 4 flavours: Matcha, Houjicha, Royal Milk Tea and Kuromitsu, and 3 options: Hot, Cold (additional $0.40) and Bottled (additional $0.90).

Our favourite was the “hou-jiak” Houjicha, with a distinct roasted tea leaves flavour and balanced sweetness. Not commonly seen in Singapore, this is a pretty under-rated flavour.

Matcha… ya… on the other hand, was on a lighter note and was pretty… ordinary.

For a more intense matcha sensation, the ceremonial tea is available.

The espresso form of Matcha, Usucha ($5.20), came in a small cup of 70ml, whisked to create a layer of foam had a bitter profile.

I guessed the milk version suits me more.

Swiss Roll ($4.90 per slice/ $18 per roll) comes in either Houjicha sponge with matcha cream or vice versa.

The latter was enjoyable, with a light but detectable taste of the houjicha cream whereas the sponge cake was soft and fluffy.

So, Matcha… ya. We prefered your Houjicha.

Matchaya
#01-72 Icon Village, 12 Gopeng Street, Singapore 078877 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon-Fri), 10am – 7pm (Sat-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/matchayasg

* Written by Daniel’s Food Diary Cafe Correspondent Nicholas Tan @stormscape

The post Matchaya – Yah. Everything Matcha And Houjicha at Tanjong Pagar Icon Village appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Macau] Some may not know that the famed Macau Portuguese Egg Tarts were actually created by an Englishman.

Lord Stow’s Bakery 安德鲁葡挞 has become synonymous with these tarts of caramelised crème brulee like appearance, flaky pastry contrasted with rich creamy filling.

The founder Andrew Stow was inspired by the Pasteis de Nata from Portugal, and experimented with his own version.

Portugese in style, English influenced – the Portugese flour and water thickening was replaced with fresh cream.

You may have seen similar versions from Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan and even Japan, but people say the Lord Stow ones are still the best. (Andrew was called “Lord” because he was the only well-known Englishman in Macau in the 1980s.)

The Lord Stow’s Egg Tarts (MOP$10, SGD$1.50) looked deceptively simple, with a slightly burnt appearance. The queue was short, but egg tarts constantly came out from the ovens as hungry tourists bought boxes after boxes.

That burnt sugar aroma.

I took quite shots, and quickly took my bite in one, for fear that it would get too cold.

Oohhhhhh….. that wafer thin layer of caramelised top matched with smooth eggy creaminess was ‘arresting’. The crust flaky and crisp.

This probably was one of the best egg tarts (in any forms) I ever eaten.

The tart probably worked doubly well because it came fresh out from the oven. I say, worth every calorie, but do not wait too long before consuming.

Tip: If you want to reheat the tarts, put them in an oven and cook for 3 minutes at 200 degrees. NO microwave oven.

The alternative is to consume them cold from the fridge, like an irresistible egg dessert.

Lord Stow’s Bakery (Original Shop)
1 Rua do Tassara, Coloane, Macau
Tel: +853 2888 2534
Opening Hours: 7am – 10pm Daily

Lord Stow’s Bakery & Café (Venetian)
Shop 870, Mask Street, The Grand Canal Shoppes Venetian, Macau
Tel: +853 2886 6889
Opening Hours: 10am – 11pm (Sun – Thurs), 10am – 12am (Fri – Sat)

Lord Stow’s Garden Café
G/F C Houston Court 21 Largo do Matadouro, Coloane Village, Macau
Tel: +853 2888 1851
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm, 9:30pm last order (Tues – Sun), 9am – 5pm, 4pm last order (Mon)

Largo do Matadouro, Coloane Village, Macau
Tel: +853 2888 2174
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm Daily

The post Lord Stow’s Bakery 安德鲁葡挞 – Those Famous Macau Portuguese Egg Tarts Are Really Delicious appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Most of you should be familiar with OLDTOWN White Coffee, which is Malaysia’s largest white coffee manufacturer.

There are always a few packets of the Classic and Mocha flavour at home, because my family likes this style coffee for its smoothness and aroma.

If you are the health conscious (or weight watcher) who loves your coffee ‘siu dai’ (meaning less sugar), the good news is OLDTOWN White Coffee 3 in 1 now comes in a Less Sugar version.

This new product with a blue-coloured packaging has 25 per cent less sugar as compared to the Classic variety, providing fans with a healthier choice with the reduced sugar option.

I actually prefer this which is not too sweet, and especially tasty when you add ice cubes for a ‘kopi peng’ style.

If you like more surprises with your coffee, here are 10 creative ways to consume OLDTOWN White Coffee 3-In-1 Less Sugar.

White Coffee Overnight Oats
Overnight Oats can be eaten as a breakfast item or nutritious ‘snack’ in between meals. Especially helpful when you need to hurry to work and have no time to prepare breakfast.

Prepare OLDTOWN White Coffee 3 in 1 Less Sugar with hot water, leave it cold.

In a mason jar, mix together the cold White Coffee with rolled oats and milk the night before, include your favourite toppings of fruits such as oranges, berries and nuts, leave them in the fridge and delicious White Coffee Overnight Oats will be ready the next morning.

Alternatively, you can include the toppings just before consuming for better crunch and freshness.

Tim Tam Slam
The Tim Tam Slam (some call the Tim Tam Bomb or Tim Tam Suck) has become an Australian coffee break ritual.

Steps are simple: bite off each end of the Tim Tam, place one bitten end into a cup of OLDTOWN White Coffee, then suck. That is to say, use the Tim Tam as a straw.

It can be messy but fun.

White Coffee Jelly
Add konnyaku jelly powder to boiling water (whisk if needed to incorporate powder). After which, add a sachet of OLDTOWN White Coffee 3 In 1 Less Sugar.

When two powders completely dissolve, pour the mixture into jelly and chill for 2 hours or overnight.

Tip: As this White Coffee has less sugar, the jellies may taste plainer with slight bitterness. You can add some sugar or fruit juice (oranges goes well with coffee) for sweetness. But up to you.

White Coffee Popsicles
Actually, these were surprisingly quite tasty and fuss-free to make. Make cups of white coffee, pour them into moulds and refrigerate.

The popsicles taste better (creamier) with some milk. So add full-cream or skimmed to your liking.

Frozen White Coffee Cubes
This was inspired by the cafes in Bangkok. Essentially, when you do is to freeze white coffee into cubes.

Then top the cups of coffee cubes with skimmed milk or frothy milk foam. The coffee would slowly melt into the sugar, making it a creamy refreshing drink for the summer. Indeed quite delicious.

White Coffee with Banana Smoothie
A fairly simple-to-do smoothie for a teatime quench that can be filling.

Include a sachet of OLDTOWN White Coffee (Prepare it with hot water, leave it cold), 1 slice peeled banana, ½ cup of ice, and some low fat milk. Blend till smooth and enjoy.

White Coffee Frappuccino (with Orange)
Time to make your own cooling Frappucino right at home. I used oranges because they go really well with coffee for a summertime treat.

Get ready a cup of OLDTOWN White Coffee (preferably already chilled), ½ cup ice cube, peeled orange, 3 tablespoons of orange juice, and some low-fat milk (optional). Blend together.

Tips: Add less water to the OLDTOWN White Coffee as this would work better with a thicker mixture. Using chilled coffee also helps get that icy effect.

You can add the peeled oranges into the blend, or cut down into small pieces for some bite while drinking.

Fresh Mint Iced White Coffee
Coffee with fresh mint has become commonplace in the West Coast. Mint Mojito Iced Coffee is also a very popular beverage over there.

So you can add a) fresh mint b) mint syrup or c) homemade fresh mint syrup (cook water, sugar, mint leaves and vanilla beans on a saucepan over medium heat) to Iced Coffee.

It will make your Iced White Coffee more cooling and refreshing than ever.

White Coffee Float
White coffee topped with a scoop of vanilla (or coffee!) ice cream for a decadent beverage that is almost a dessert.

White Coffee Protein Shake
Gym-goers who want to build some muscles often have protein shake. Some are coffee drinkers who may not have the time to get some.

The solution? Add in plain or vanilla flavoured protein to a cup of White Coffee, and shake it!

The new OLDTOWN White Coffee 3 in 1 Less Sugar is now available at the nearest hypermarket and supermarket such as Cold Storage, FairPrice, Giant, Sheng Siong, as well as the local grocery stores.

You may visit the OLDTOWN White Coffee website for more information at http://www.oldtown.com.my/index.php/our-coffee

OLDTOWN White Coffee 3 in 1 Less Sugar Giveaway

OLDTOWN White Coffee has 50 x 2 packets of OLDTOWN White Coffee 3 in 1 Less Sugar + Mocha Flavour to giveaway. (Coffee will be couriered to your address in Singapore.)

Steps
– LIKE & SHARE this post
– COMMENT below (remember to fill up your email address) to answer the question: What creative way would you use your OLDTOWN White Coffee 3 in 1 Less Sugar?

50 winners will be picked at random to win the prize. Closing date: 2 July 2016.

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with OLDTOWN White Coffee.

The post 10 Creative Ways To Consume OLDTOWN White Coffee 3-In-1 Less Sugar + Giveaway! appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

About a year ago, Thai Coconut Ice Creams were quite the fad in Singapore, with a few dedicated kiosks and pasar malam bazaar stalls opening up.

These Thai Coconut Ice Cream are popular among Singaporeans at Bangkok’s JJ Chatuchak Weekend Market – scooped in coconut husks, toppings of corn and peanuts, with juicy slices of fresh coconut flesh adding some superfood element.

But other food trends and instagrammable foods from ice cream rolls, rainbow-anything and specialty soft serves have caught up.

Is Thai Coconut Ice Creams still IN? (The other known ones around are Pong Gelato, Wimi, Waan Waan, Qoolco).

So imagine my slight surprise when I saw a NEW Koko Thai Coconut Ice Cream opening up at (the non-air-conditioned) Star Vista of all places.

Koko was started by 3 friends who had their first dessert stall at Amoy Street Food Centre.

Previously, I had a price friendly single scoop 3 toppings at $3.50 at their Causeway Point branch (which closed It think).

Prices have increased. Guess it is the rental.

A single scoop with 2 toppings in half a coconut shell, plus a small cup of coconut juice at $3.90. Double scoops go for $4.90.

Available only the Star Vista outlet, a Kokolicious premium version is sold. It contains coconut flesh strips within, and is richer in coconut flavour.

Good stuff though – creamy, not too sweet, and indeed had some fruity strips for that added bite.

Thankfully, the coconut flesh has already been scraped out, included below the ice cream, making eating a much easier affair.

Would I have it again? Not entirely sure. Must prefer to have this somewhere seated down.

Koko Ice Cream
The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green #B1-37D (next to information counter) Singapore 66943111
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm Daily

Other branch:
7 Maxwell Road #02-104 Amoy Street Food Centre Singapore 069111 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 4pm (Mon – Tues), 11am – 10pm (Wed – Sun), Closed PH

The post Koko Thai Coconut Ice Cream – Kokolicious Ice Cream Richer In Flavour, At Star Vista appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

”Aloha!” Judging from the queue outside Aloha Poké (pronounced “Poh-Kay”) at Marina Bay Link Mall, many CBD workers have a penchant for this Hawaiian style staple.

Poké bowls have swept across the US a few years back as another food trend. At least a healthier one. And the ‘traditional’ Poké bowls comprise of seasoned Ahi (Tuna) tossed with toasted sesame seeds, sweet onions and scallions.

This outlet at Marina Bay Link Mallis the second after Amoy Street, opened by these two couples who first brought the concept to Singapore after getting inspired in Hawaii.

The kitchen is helmed by Chef Michael Yonathan, a trained sushi chef who was previously from Capella.

There are three standard sizes of Poké bowls – the Lil’ Swell ($11.90) that comes with 1 scoop of 75g Poké, Standard Nalu ($15.90) with 2 scoops of 150g Poke and Big Kahuna ($19.90) with 3 scoops of 225g Poké.

As for the poké, you can pick either Raw Ahi Tuna or Raw Salmon in three different flavours – original, wasabi mayo or spicy. Sometimes there are seasonal specials.

A three scoops order will allow you to pick up to 3 flavours of poké.

Complete your poké bowl with a base of white rice, brown rice, a mix of both, or salad only, followed by two complimentary add-ons and one complimentary superfood.

Add ons include jalapenos, flying fish roe, quail eggs, walnuts and edamame. There is also a changing “seasonal item” which will be reflected on the board. I saw dragonfruit the last time.

As to what the appeal to a Poké bowl is, it is probably the perception that this is health food with more taste.

There are contrastingly many salads places within Singapore’s CBD, and many experience long snaking queues during lunch time. With the exception of a handful, most are predictable and sell the usual salads, rice bowls and wraps.

Yeah, can be boring, can be bland.

The Poké is like chirashi don with salad. The marinate makes the ahi tuna or salmon more flavoursome.

It can contain raw and cooked ingredients; it can be hot and cold; it can be plain (when you customise) or packed with flavours (from the spiciness or wasabi mayonnaise).

There are rice (white, brown or mix), greens, and fish, giving perception of carbs, proteins and other nutrients all at once.

You can always customise a bowl to your liking. If in doubt, get the Standard Nalu Salmon ($15.90) which contains chunky cubes of salmon with zesty sweet fruits such as mangoes, served on crunchy lettuce over a bed of rice.

I ordered a Spicy version before, and its fieriness kicked almost every bite. Can be satisfying, but may be distracting for those who enjoy simple plainness in your healthy lunch.

(Talking about ‘healthy’, overheard another female customer who wanted to customise a bowl with no carbs, no fatty dressing, no sour-anything, no fruits, no spicy… Well, maybe buying the greens direct the supermarket is a better option.)

Aloha Poké
Marina Bay Link Mall, 8A Marina Boulevard, #B2-46, Singapore 018984
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 2:30pm (Sat)

92 Amoy Street, Singapore 069911 (Telok Ayer MRT)
Tel: +65 6221 6165
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm (Mon-Sat, Closed Sun)

The post Aloha Poké – Healthy Hawaiian Poké Bowls At Marina Bay Link Mall appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Popular Chinese restaurant Riverside Grilled Fish 江边城外 with 54 outlets in China, has set up its first overseas outpost in Singapore at Raffles City basement (taking over Watami).

We have seen some famous ‘Made In China’ restaurants arrive in Singapore. Hai Di Lao appears to successful, while some of the rest (9Goubuli, Avenue Joffre, Faigo Hotpot) are still finding a footing.

Generally, lots of money ‘thrown’ in ID and furniture, but some restaurants do not carry out even the most basic of marketing. Then question why still so empty. Anyway, there are also some cultural differences in terms of dining habits, which may not suit potentially well in the local market.

Riverside Grilled Fish was founded in 2005 by two friends who chanced upon the traditional method of grilling fish and topping it off with Ma La sauces while travelling in Wushan Town, Chong Qing.

They opened their first shop in Beijing, and snaking long queues became a common sight.

As for the Singapore branch, the interior is HUGE, with a pseudo traditional inn meets oriental restaurant design. Something like Singapore’s Dian Xiao Er.

”服务员，菜单有没有英文版的?” Asking, if there is an English version of the menu. Not that I cannot read, but how about the rest of the ‘jia kan tan’ Singaporeans?

So FYI, the names of the dishes are in English, but the entire description is in Chinese. Remember I talked about adapting to local cultures. But the service was very earnest and waitress was patient enough to explain about their specialities.

Here’s how it works: Diners can choose to pair their selected fish –Red Tilapia ($35.00), Sea Bass ($35.00), Black Pomfret ($38.00) or Garoupa ($42.00) with any of the 8 accompanying sauces of their choice.

There is also an option of choosing from 18 different types of side dishes including sausages, pork belly, tofu sheets and flat vermicelli to be cooked with their whole grilled fish, all at an additional cost of $2.50 -$4.50 per side dish.

The sauces include the Signature Fragrant Spicy Sauce (spicy and sweet), Black Bean Sauce (non-spicy), Unique (sweet, sour, and mala TOGETHER), and Ma La (intense spicy).

I had a Garoupa in the signature sauce, because the waitress said that was the best for first-timers.

Spicy? YES. Intense? YES.

You may call this ‘fish fishing in a river of spicy oil’. The oil, the saltiness, the fieriness, the presentation reminded me of my meals in Sichuan – just whack.

Okay, this wasn’t HOT to the extent that I would tear, but I did finish the entire tumbler of water all on my own.

The fish was chunky and fresh, the sauce tasted authentic enough. Though I must encourage you to come with a bigger group to share-share.

Any more of the Ma La sauce might have given you the spicy runs (yikes) the next morning, or a headache, depending on your tolerance level.

Since @Shauneeie asked me to write in Chinese, which I will try… 来自中国北京的江边城外，着重卖巫山烤全鱼，在内地红得火热。

第一次来到新加坡，我是有些期待。果然名不虚传。

新鲜烤石斑配上香辣酱，加上了干辣椒、葱沫、芝麻和花生等材料。肉质鲜甜，浆料火力全开，不经常吃辣的人可能舌头发狂，隔天“五福临门”。

人生或味觉需要多一些刺激的人，不许再处在城外了。

Riverside Grilled Fish 江边城外
Raffles City Shopping Centre, #B1-06/07 252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6352 2035
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm

The post Riverside Grilled Fish 江边城外 – Whole Fish In Spicy Chong Qing Sauces At Raffles City appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Readers of DanielFoodDiary.com should get the sense that I am a fan of Tai Cheong Bakery in Hong Kong. And yes, they have finally launched their first permanent outlet in Singapore in the basement food hall of Takashimaya Shopping Centre.

The ones in Hong Kong are touted as one of the best renditions there, with crumbly cookie-like shell, buttery fragrance, and smooth wobbly egg custard.

I would have thought that after two pop-up stints earlier this year, the local team would have been much equipped to handle queues, and delivery quality tarts consistent with those of Hong Kong. (Sorry, if I sound harsh here.)

Similar to Honolulu Café Singapore at Centrepoint, the egg tarts are just not comparable to those sold in the home country.

The signature Egg Tarts 皇牌蛋撻 are sold $1.90 for one, or $7.60 for four.

Unfortunately, all four that I bought were kind of ‘chao tah’ on the edges. That means the crust was slightly burnt, and either the oven temperature or timing had not be controlled properly.

Also, instead of that bright yellow appearance, all that were sold looked darker yellow and drier.
If there is proper QC, those pieces shouldn’t be sold to customers.

Other traditional bakes will be available soon: Chicken Pie 皇牌雞批 ($2.80 each); golden-brown shortcrust pastry packed with creamy diced chicken and mushroom, Cocktail Bun 港式雞尾包 ($1.80 each); shredded coconut and butter snuggled in a pillowy bread roll, Char Siew Bolo Bun 叉烧菠萝包($2.20 each), Sponge Cup Cake 紙包蛋糕 ($1.50 each) and Butter Egg Rolls 港式牛油峰巢蛋卷 ($15 per box).

While this outlet is a takeaway counter, Tai Cheong Bakery also has plans to unveil a dine-in concept towards the end of this year.

Tai Cheong Bakery Singapore
Takashimaya Shopping Centre #B208-5 (Food Hall), 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 8223 1954
Opening Hours: 10am – 9:30pm

* Written by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of photos without express and written permission is strictly prohibited.

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