Cafe AG: A Socially Responsible Dining Suggestion for New Year's Eve

For our Christmas Eve dinner this year, we had a four course set dinner in an exclusive, by invitation only, eatery set in a rustic kampung environment. What makes this particular eatery so special is that it is run entirely by the girls of AG home.

We have been supporting Pastor Andrew's work with troubled teenage girls since our Charity Dinner last year and it is always inspiring to see the the love that both Andrew and Grace shower upon the girls. It took them awhile to set up the Cafe after their move from Telok Kurau last year, but they managed to get it ready in time for this year's Christmas and New Year dinner.

The Cafe is run entirely by the girls under the supervision of volunteer chefs. This year, Jackie from Cilantro Modern Asian got involved and she played a pivotal role by donating some kitchen equipment and training the girls. They are also helping to provide supplies like their smoked duck breast and pizza bases.

I met Sam, the girl who is currently managing the Cafe. Sam just completed her 18 month stay at AG Home. She started using ketamine since she was 13 but only got caught five years later. Her friends were all sent to prison, but somehow she was sent to AG Home instead. She told me that she used to spend $1000 a month on the drug.

It was during her 18 month stay that she saw God's love for her through the lives of Ps Andrew and Grace and the volunteers at the home and she decided to accept Jesus into her life. After her discharge, Ps Andrew asked her what she would like to do with her life and she responded by saying that she would love to run a Cafe. So now she is in charge of managing the Cafe under close supervision from Jackie.



For our Christmas Eve dinner, we had a salad of Coral lettuce with bacon bits, homemade Potato Croquette, Black Pepper Chicken Chop and Cheesecake. The set dinner costs $25 and a similar one is planned for New Year's Eve.

Now, the food is actually not bad, but of course there are still a lot things that can be improved upon. They have just been opened for 1 month and so they are still raising money to buy a few more things for the kitchen. I actually quite liked the Potato Croquette and ordered an extra serving for myself and the kids. Their normal cafe menu will feature some of the items from Cilantro such as the duck breast pasta and pizza. They also have a non-alcoholic bar with an expresso machine and soon they will be offering fruit smoothies as well.

The Cafe is basically a training ground for girls who are interested to work in the food and beverage industry. There is no rental and wage cost, so the money raised is used to pay for the food costs and to buy kitchen equipment. In keeping with the Christian practise of tithing, they also contribute a portion of the money to other charities and the rest is used for the running of the home.

So, if you have no plans yet for New Year's Eve, why not consider a Set Dinner at Ag Cafe? Jackie just confirmed that she will personally be there to make sure you get a good meal. The Cafe is opened to invited guests only (Readers of this blog are considered invited guests) and it is best to give them a call to let them know you are coming. If you can't make it for New Year's Eve, you can still drop in at other times for their normal Cafe menu.

PS: They also rear prize winning Goldfish and Koi in the premises which you can buy when you are there.

You can read more about AG Homes here
The AG Home website is here

Cafe AG
6A Mattar Road
S387715
93887926 (Sam)
11am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
Saturday lunch only
Sunday closed
Please let them know that you have been invited by ieat

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Cafe Oliv Revisited: An ieat Team Review

Reviewed by Holydrummer with Pics from Cactuskit and Wahcow

With the additional mouths of smart, liverpool, champagne, taukwa,wahcow maiden, mr. & mrs sumosumo, jems & jemster, cactusprincess, holybro & holybunny

Have you ever fancied feasting on French escargots, Chinese 'guo-tie' and Italian pasta - all at the same time? Weird cravings, I hear you say. Or if you are tired of the run-of-the-mill chicken chop from the hawker centre stall, join the club. Question is, where can you go for exquisite western cuisine that is a cut above the rest, yet decently-priced? Look no further - At Cafe Oliv, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Executive Chef-Owner Kevin Heng presents a range of unique offerings from his rejuvenated menu that allows him to better express his culinary flair. With hints of 'Eastern' influences in his new dishes, one would ask what on earth is he really cooking - Western? East-Meets-West? Fusion?

In what was arguably the heaviest weekend degustation - a whopping 20-course - we guinea pigs gathered for a nice Saturday brunch to explore Cafe Oliv's new food experiments and to find out the answer.

First up, Salads and Appetisers:


Oliv Avocado Quail Eggs Mesclun Frisee French Dressing $10.90
Photo by Cactuskit

Presentation wise, this is a colourful beauty. Avocado by nature has a creamy & buttery texture; Combining thick slices of these together with the quail eggs, they lend weight to alternating textures between the crunchy mesclun greens and the juicy cherry tomatoes & olives, making this a full-bodied salad. 4/5

Gratin Oliv Herb Butter Yolk Cheese Monray Escargot $9.90 (half a dozen)
Photo by Cactuskit

Fans of escargot can also rejoice. The snails come conveniently de-shelled and are surprisingly quite plump and tender, packing in a bit of crunch. Served on a bed of blanched Chinese spinach, some of us found the choice of greens rather amusing initially. Mismatch? Perhaps. But I thought it provided a good contrast by cushioning the saltiness of the accompanying sauce around the escargots and added a somewhat fusion-istic presentation. Bound to be a crowd favourite, you can't go wrong with this oven-baked dish with bechemel sauce & melted cheese oozing all over. 4/5


Oliv Fusion Stuffing "Guo Tie" Streaky Pork Dumpling $7.90 (8 pieces)

Photo by Cactuskit

Drawing inspiration from his Chinese kitchen staff, this Northern Chinese staple was re-invented with an additional twist in cooking technique. Instead of just the usual pan-frying, the "Guo Tie" were then braised with stock and the pan jus was left to reduce until it was totally absorbed into the dumplings, sealing in all the flavours. The intended effect was to create a "Guo Tie" in the style of a "tang bao", a la "xiao long bao" - where there is soup within waiting to burst out. It was indeed juicy enough at first bite, though the base could be seared longer & finished with a crispier skin. 4.25/5

P.S: Before we move on, don't forget to ask for Oliv's two homemade sauces - Honey Mustard & Thai Mayonnaise to accompany your meal. They go well with anything at all, and our moderator 'sumosumo' dabbed the dumpling with the honey mustard - "Fantastic!"


Oliv Quesadilla with Seafood $11.90

Photo by Wahcow

The Quesadilla stood out with its paper-thin tortilla skin - it is like an ultra crispy thin-crust pizza packed with chokefuls of filling bursting at the seams. You can select from a choice of 5 types of ingredients. Uncle Smart especially enjoyed this dish! 4.25/5

Photo by Cactuskit

Look at that! Can't resist sinking your teeth & experiencing that 'first crunch' yeah? You'd be glad to know that Cafe Oliv also serves a variety of thin-crust pizzas including the new Wild Mushroom Anchovies Margarita Pizza @ $12.90 - good for two to three.


Chargrilled Bratwurst Snail & Spicy Italian Sausages with Rosti Potato $14.90
Photo by Wahcow

Rosti is considered the national dish of Switzerland and pairing the German Bratwurst & Italian Sausage with Swiss Rosti reflects a delightful culinary mishmash akin to the neighbouring cultures prevalent in Switzerland. In Singapore, I shall christen this "Rosti Prata".

For Oliv's "Rosti Prata" - Russet Burbank potatoes were grated & pan-fried, with bacon left to saute first then tossed in to infuse flavour into the potato prata. Succulent sausages on top of Rosti - an impeccable match and a hit with the kakis! 4.5/5

Oliv Traditional Beef Stew with Fennel, Potato & Pilaf Rice $11.90

Photo by Cactuskit

This is as good'ol hearty as beef stew can get. Chunks of tender beef shin and root vegetables are stewed for a good few hours and served with steaming hot pilaf rice. The shin contains more tendons and less fat which is ideal for stewing. This dish is my personal favourite here and I love to have this stew especially on a chilly cold rainy day. It never fails to warm not only my stomach, but my heart too. 4.5/5

If you are not a fan of beef, try Oliv's Black Pepper Pesto Chicken with Rosemary Sauce ($11.90) One whole boneless chicken thigh is marinated overnight with paprika, rosemary and french mustard - Kevin adds in a good measure of ground black pepper to spice things up. I could appreciate the crisp & charred bits outside, while leaving the meat inside still moist and tender. 4/5. If you're looking for a meaner and crunchier alternative, also excellent is the Parmesan Cheese Chicken Cutlet Coriander Dill Cream @ $11.90. 4.25/5 They may seem like simple culifare (pardon the pun), but they can satisfy the simplest of coq cravings.


Char-Grilled Honey Glazed Pork Belly Ribs with Barbeque Sauce ($16.90 for half slab, $26.90 for full slab)

Photo by Cactuskit

Saving the best for the last, this star dish here is so good, it is worth raving about one more time, even if it has been featured before here. This unique recipe combines a special technique with a secret homemade BBQ marinade to provide that melt-in-the-mouth texture:

Instead of basting, the soft-bone ribs are first steamed for 3 hours with the BBQ sauce & left to rest, absorbing & trapping all the moisture in the meat - most of the fat is also removed in the process. Then, more of that special concoction is coated onto the meat just before chargrilling it, to give it added oomph and flavour. The result? A perfectly lean and tender slab. I especially loved the charred and slightly crispy crust and don't miss out on the sides where you can really suck the flavour out of the soft bones. Heaven! All of the kakis gave their stamp of approval. 4.5/5

Conclusion

Western? East-Meets-West? Fusion? Ultimately, you define it & decide for yourself. Whatever it is, Cafe Oliv's revamped menu is bound to please any palate with its brand-new offerings while retaining the old favourites.

Besides the huge variety of starters and entrees, it even contains a 3-step DIY Pasta section where you can select from 3 types of pasta, 7 types of sauces & 11 types of ingredients.

What do all these mean? It means you will definitely be spoilt for choice!

National Day Special Promotion for ieatishootipost.sg readers only!

Good news for you all! Up till the end of August only, Cafe Oliv is pleased to offer its guests 10% discount off the total bill when you quote 'ieatishootipost.sg'. It's that simple - Just mention the blog and you will be entitled to the exclusive discount. That means NO GST and NO Service Charge!

Visit www.cafeoliv.com for more info.

Cafe Oliv
220, East Coast Road
(Near Church of the Holy Family, Katong)
6-344-3114
Open daily from 11:30am - 11pm

What to do next?

Read the previous Cafe Oliv review here

Go down the road and have a nice cup of kopi with nostalgia at Chin Mee Chin

Cross the road to satisfy your Durian craving at Ah Loon's

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Jacky Chan's Cafe: Kung Fu Cappuccinno and Dim Sum!

I still remember my very first Jacky Chan movie. It was none other than "Drunken Monkey", the good olde Kung Fu movie back in 1978 with a predictable storyline which only serves as a backdrop for the Kung Fu actors to display their Kung Fu skills.

You know the story........ young disciple's master gets killed by bad guy, big headed young disciple seeks revenge but gets beaten up real bad, learns his lesson on humility, learns a new fighting skill, goes up against the bad guy again, almost gets killed, but last minute gets flashback from old deceased master, suddenly gets extra power boost and kills bad guy....

Yeah, I remember trying to do the Jui Chuen (Drunken Kungfu) just like Jacky when I was a kid! C'mon, you guys have done it too lah!

Anyway, fast forward 30 years, Jacky Chan is now a household name even in the Western world. There is even a Jacky Chan cartoon series. So why would a guy with such fame and fortune want to open a cafe?

That was the question I posed to Simon, the man in charge of Jacky Chan's cafe in Singapore. By the way, the one in Singapore is the very first Jacky Chan cafe which is quite interesting as you would have expected it to have started in Hong Kong instead. According to Simon it is all about the Hong Kong people's mindset of starting businesses. So Jacky, being a good Hong Konger is just doing it because it is in his genes.



So, if you were Jacky Chan, what kind of cafe would you like to open? One that serves Cappuccino with Dim Sum seems to be the answer. And I think it is a great idea as well.

You know how Dim Sum always seems to be something you eat with more than 2 friends? Yeah, everything comes in threes. So it is difficult for 2 people to have a casual dim sum meal. So the good thing with the cafe is that everything comes in twos. Just right for you and a friend.

The other way to think of it is that whenever you have coffee, don't you wish you had something nice and savoury like a Char Siew Shou or some Springrolls? Since this is such a great idea, why does it take someone like Jacky Chan to come up with it first, I wonder? Some other enterprising entrepreneur should have thought about it long ago, right?



Anyway, the Dim Sum here is from Imperial Treasure, so the quality is very good. They have several steamed items like teochew dumplings and lotus leaf glutinous rice but most of the items are the baked and deep fried ones like Wu Kok (Fried Yam dumplings), Char Siew Shou (Char Siew Puffs), egg tarts and this particular Yam Puff which I thought was the best of the lot.

The Yam Puff filled with a sweet Yam Paste and salted egg yolk. The pastry is light and flaky and I think you can imagine that it would taste really good. I give this one a 4.5/5.

Conclusion

Great place to chill out with a friend over coffee and dim sum. I think there would be more cafes serving dim sum popping up in Singapore real soon.

Jackie Chan's Cafe
1 Nassim Road, #01-01
Opp Tanglin Shopping Centre
7.30am to 10pm daily

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Good Morning Nanyang Cafe: Freshly Baked Scones and Kopi!

It's been a year since I first met Liverpool and blogged about his Ciabatta and Kaya Toast. How time flies. Ever since our first meeting, we have been tossing around ideas on what else would Singaporeans like to eat with their Kopi and Teh C.

If you all have been following the blog, you would know that I'd choose a good old fashion cup of Kopi over Cafe Latte anyday. In fact, our polls showed that 46.7% of those polled also prefer Kopi compared with 32.5% who like western style coffee. There have been so many occasions when I am having Cheesecake or Croissant that I wished I could have a cup of Kopi rather than a Cappuccino. Liverpool felt the same way too. So we have been discussing all sorts of stuff that we would love to eat with a cup of Kopi and one of them was freshly baked scones.

So after the idea had been brewing for almost a year, Liverpool finally shifted to his new premises in Chinatown Point installed a new oven and produced his first tray of freshly baked scones!



I have always liked scones since my trip to Bath in England. Slapping on some strawberry jam and clotted cream onto freshly baked, piping hot scones has always been my idea of the perfect afternoon tea. Now I can have it with my cup of Teh C which is even better!

The scones here are light and fluffy but the problem is that there was no clotted cream! (Liverpool's thinking about it). However, the plus side is that you can have it with Kaya if you wanted. 4/5 (gotta get the clotted cream man!)

If you like you Kopi, you have to try the Kopi here. After going around tasting the various famous Kopi places, I would have to say that the Kopi here ranks as one of the best around. Seriously, I am not just saying this to help him promote his Kopi because he is my friend. I like his Kopi because it is smooth, creamy and fragrant with very little bitterness or acidity. It is just the way I like it. Not only I say, but you can ask any of the "Uncles" sitting around who come three times a day to get their Kopi fix! 4.5/5

Conclusion

Only place in Singapore I know of that you can get freshly baked scones with Kopi and Teh C. And if you pride yourself as a Kopi lover, you should come try the Kopi here and see if you agree with my verdict.

Good Morning Nanyang Cafe
133 New Bridge Road, #03-01
Byron 81331882
Open 8am to 8.30pm Mon-Fri
Sat, Sun and PH 10.30am to 8.30pm

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Olio Cafe: New Fusion Menu

Laksa Sphaghetti $12.90++

I am a little apprehensive about reviewing Fusion cuisine because I seldom hear people raving about it. In fact, most of the time people tend to utter phrases like "Fusion Confusion" instead. The thing about Fusion cuisine is that people tend to compare the new dish with the original and if the original is really good, it is difficult for the Fusion dish come up to par.

So take the Laksa Pesto Pasta for example. The taste is distinctively "Laksa" because of the generous use of Laksa leaves but just when you think you might be eating Laksa, you realise that it is also akin to Basil Pesto Pasta because instead of coconut cream gravy, you have olive oil instead. Inevitably, you would then compare the new dish with your favourite bowl of Laksa and that's where the problem starts. Especially, when you bowl of Laksa costs $3 while you are paying Cafe prices for the pasta dish. 3.5/5

If that is the case, why are there still so many places offering Fusion Food? I think the way to enjoy Fusion Food is to have an appropriate mindset. It's about being adventurous and exploring new possibilities. Sometimes you do hit on something that really does work and that is almost like finding the "Easter Egg" in your computer game.


Capellini with Marinated Miso Salmon Fillet

One of the "Easter Eggs" that we found was the Capellini with Miso Salmon Fillet. This one worked really well. The sweet and savoury flavours of the Miso Paste was delightful with the perfectly charred Salmon Fillet and the crunchy roe was a nice contrast to the Al Dente Capellini. Both Moms gave it two thumbs up. 4.5/5


Beef Rendang Lasagne $14.90++

The Beef Rendang Lasagne reminded me of a baked Beef Curry Puff smothered in cheese sauce which can be quite delicious if you think about it. The minced beef fried has been fried with spices which is reminiscent of Rendang sans the rempah. The response was a bit mixed. One mom really liked it, the other mom was equivocal. I thought it was pretty interesting but could do with a bit more kick from the Rendang spices. 4/5


Teriyaki Chicken Pizza $13.90++

It seems that the Japanese/European fusion tends to work quite well. Beside the Miso Salmon pasta dish, the other one that really worked well was the Teriyaki Chicken Pizza. Then again, you really can't go wrong with roasted chicken, Japanese Mayonaise, teriyaki sauce and avocado. These usually go very well together. For a person who generally likes a bit of sweet with the savoury, this one is for me, though I am not a huge fan of bonito flakes. 4.25/5


Brownie $7.50

The charismatic Brownie is sure to make heads turn when its starts to smoke and sizzle. What they have done is to sandwich gelato between the brownie, put it on a hot plate and pour chocolate sauce over it on your table. I thought it would have worked better with ice-cream rather than gelato, as it would have been more creamy. But I guess it would be good for those who are more health conscious. The other problem is that the brownie is frozen, so you would have to wait for the hot plate to warm the brownie up. 3.75/5

Overall, it was a great dining experience because I am the type of person who likes to think of novel creations. So each dish that was served was like, "Hey, this is a great idea! Wonder if it will work?" and then to taste it and decide if it did work or how it can be made to work. I think that that is the real fun factor in Fusion food.

Conclusion

I have always enjoyed dining at Olio since the days they were located at Wheelock Place and the new cafe at Holland Village continues to offer a great casual dining experience. There's a few dishes that worked really well and others which need more tweaking. So if you are curious about how a Soft Shell Crab Sandwich with Wasabi mayonnaise or a Beef Rendang Lasagna would taste like, then you should head down and decide for yourself!

Olio Cafe
29 Lor Mambong
11.30am to 11.30pm
Fri-Sat opened till 1am
Disclosure: This was an invited review.

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Vittles: Excellent Diner for the Whole Family!

Special Promo for ieatishootipost readers! Details at the end of the blog

Moo Moo II Burger $10.90 250gm beef pattie

This little diner up North is going to put a smile on many faces. It's the latest "Value for Money" diner which has recently opened in Sembawang barely 2 months ago and judging from the quality of the food and the prices, I can only say that it has all the qualities of another Astons in the making.

Just take a look at the Moo Moo II Burger. For $10.90, you get a big and juicy 250gm, hand chopped beef pattie, sauteed mushrooms and onions, crispy bacon, tomato and lettuce in a really nice oat meal crusted burger bun!

Truth be told, this is the ieat new improved version of the original Moo Moo Burger. I told Chef Julius that what I would really like to have is not just another burger but one that is going to get people talking. So he went to the kitchen with a few new ideas and whipped up the burger shown in the picture. He liked it so much that he told me that he will henceforth be serving the new improved version.



I really like beef patties where the meat is not so finely ground such that you can still bite into the meat fibres. The pattie was big and juicy and just needs a bit more tweaking to get the full beefy flavour out of it. I like the big soft bun which readily absorbed the juices of the meat pattie and the tangy BBQ sauce which gave it a nice balance. At $10.90, this is probably one of the best value burger in town! 4.25/5


Parmesan Coated Fish Fillet $7.90

The Parmesan Coated Fish Fillet came as a very pleasant surprise. The Parmesan cheese gave the Pacific Dory fillet a nice savoury flavour which is a very nice departure from the more familiar bread crumbs. The fish was cooked to perfection. Nice and juicy on the inside and crumbly on the outside. It went really well with the zesty homemade tomato salsa. 4.5/5


Emperor Oriental Chix Salad $6.90

If you enjoy Lo Hei (Raw Fish Salad) because of all the crunchy bits and salad rather then the raw fish itself, then you are going to like the Emperor Oriental Chix Salad where instead of raw fish, you have shredded chicken. I just love the crunchy crackers with the the tangy sweet salad dressing. 4.25/5

Vittles is an excellent place for family meals as they have stuff that the kids will love. Their Nachos are freshly fried and served with minced beef and cheese sauces. I usually prefer my nachos with melted cheese on top but my kids like it this way. 4/5


Pistachio Herb Crusted Lamb Rack $18.90

Chef Julius makes all the sauces and sides here himself and very few items actually come out of a packet. He makes the red wine sauce from scratch and even the mashed potatoes are made from real potatoes. You get a choose from 11 different home made side dishes. My personal favouriet was the creamy gratinated potatoes.

The Pistachio Herb Crust on the Lamb Rack is very addictive. I just couldn't stop nibbling on it with the red wine sauce. However, the lamb was frozen not chilled lamb, so it was not has juicy. But at $18.90, one can't really expect them to serve up chilled lamb rack. Still it was a delicious lamb rack that lamb lovers should try. 4.25/5

Conclusion

It was an invited review, so I was apprehensive at first. But it turned out to be a most wonderful lunch for the whole family. The kids loved the free popcorn that you can help yourself to as you are waiting for the food as well as the nachos and fries. The diner is run by 3 sisters and Chef Julius, so the service was very personal. Food is great value and on top of that, there is no GST or service charge. I think this place is poised to do very well.

Special for all our readers!

Print out this page and get 50% off your 2nd main course and a free Tropical Crush. This smoothie is is made of soursop and jackfruit and I found it really very unique and refreshing and I am sure you all will like it too. (50% off 2nd main meal is valid on Tues to Fri only. One weekends you still get the Tropical Crush) Offer valid till end Oct 2007.

Update 1 26 Sep 2007

There has been some confusion about the offer and I have just spoken with Denise. Now it is confirmed that the Tropical Crush is available both weekends and weekdays but the 50% off is only valid on weekdays. Denise has also said that the Moo Moo II will be available daily from next week onwards.

Vittles 369 Sembawang road
#01-05 Sembawang Cottage (Same bldg as Mac's)
67561138
www.vittles.com.sg
Sun to Thurs : 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Fri, Sat & Eve of Public Holidays : 11:00 am to 11:00 pm
Closed on Monday

Disclosure: This review was done at the invitation of Vittles

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Brown Sugar: Wagyu Burger with Foie Gras!

BrownSugar is in the midst of relocating to a new address. Stay tuned

With Big MOG, PowerMOG and introducing UK Chef MiniMOG

Wagyu Burger with Truffled Mushroom Sauce $28

The Big MOG has found himself a cosy little cafe bistro which serves really nice food and wanted to let you all know about it. This time round, he is joined by his wife and son who have just arrived from the UK. Incidentally, MiniMOG is a chef who had spent some time in Gordon Ramsey's kitchen as well as some of the poshest restaurants in the UK and it was a real eye opener to listen to him comment on the food.

The thing that captured my attention at first was the mention of a Wagyu Burger. Do you all remember the $101 Wagyu burger from Uberburger that made headlines not so long ago? Well, compared to that, this $28 Wagyu Burger sounded like a real bargain. Plus, you could even add Foie Gras onto your burger for an extra $7.

Brown Sugar's owner, fondly known as Sugar Daddy, tells us that the Wagyu Pattie is made from Wagyu Beef which is chopped by hand. The whole pattie is only lightly seasoned with chopped onions, salt and pepper so that you get the full flavour of the Wagyu. Instead of the usual burger bun, it is served with homemade Ciabatta and laced with a Truffle Mushroom sauce to add that extra kick. OK, so you've got "Wagyu", "Foie Gras" and "Truffle", three of the most enticing words in the culinary vocabulary all combined in one burger! Does it sound enticing or what?

I really liked the chunky, tender pieces of Wagyu which had excellent texture and nicely flavoured. Whilest US beef is characteristically more robust and beefy, the flavour of Wagyu is more delicate. If US beef is a Karate chop, Wagyu would be more like a firm massage. Chef MiniMog felt that the onions overpowered the flavour of the beef and would have preferred the beef without. I, on the other hand, quite enjoyed it.

However, the Ciabatta was a little dense for me and I would have preferred a softer bread. The truffle mushroom sauce, as you can expect, was quite shiok. I would have liked a little bit of relish to balance off the otherwise very savoury flavours of the burger. 4.25/5


Pan Fried Foie Gras, Caramelised Pineapples and Croutons $25

If you like Foie Gras, then you should make a beeline down to this Bistro because this is one of the most generous portions of Foie Gras I have come across for $25. There were altogether five chunks of delectable Duck Liver beautifully seared and dressed in veal jus with caramelised pineapple. The pineapple was a little too tart for me. A little more sweeter would have been good for me. MiniMog, on the other hand, felt that the tartness was alright. 4.25/5


Spaghetti with Organic Mushrooms in Cream Sauce with Sliced Parma Ham $18

Sugar Daddy aka Yuan, is yet another young entrepreneur who left a lucrative banking job in pursuit of a passion. The self taught chef started his career by being a "chef for hire", cooking for private functions before settling down run his own restaurant. That being the case, the menu is basically made up of all the stuff that he loves to eat. If you have been following the blog from the start, you would remember how I would add Sio Bak onto my Hokkien Mee to give it that extra oooomph! Well Yuan is of kindred spirits except maybe in a Ang Mo fashion. Just look at what he did to the basic Spaghetti Al Funghi (Mushroom Sauce). Oh yes, a generous handful of Shaved Parma Ham. A man after my own heart (and stomach) indeed! 4.25/5

The mushroom dishes here are all very very good. The mushrooms are sourced from Mycofarm which are grown right here in Singapore and they had that excellent earthy flavour. Even the super fastidious MiniMOG gave his stamp of approval. The mushroom soup is a must try. Made from button, oyster, abalone and shitake mushrooms and drizzled with Truffle oil, it is one of the best mushroom soups I have come across. 4.5/5


Sticky Date Pudding with Brown Sugar Butterscotch $10

Brown Sugar wouldn't live up to its name if it didn't serve up a few tantalizing desserts would it? And I am glad to report that they did not disappoint. The the Sticky Date pudding got the stamp of approval from both our Dessert Desperados viz Big MOG and iwatch_ueat. If you have a sweet tooth, this one is guaranteed to hit the spot! 4.5/5


Tarte Tatin of Pears with Honey and Fig Ice Cream $12

The other item that was really impressive was the Tarte Tatin of Pears. This is the personal favourite of Sugar Daddy who first ate it in the UK and felt that he just had to have it in the restaurant. The pastry is delightfully light and puffy and provided a good contrast to the beautifully caramelised pears and ice cream. 4.25/5

Conclusion

Delightful little cafe bistro to drop in for a casual bite. The food is prepared with passion and some of the items are really good value. Just make sure you leave some room for desserts!







Brown Sugar Cafe Bistro
277 River Valley Road
#01-04 Stardus Clubhouse
63336612
www.brownsugar.com.sg

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Greenwood Fish Market: Ultimate Fish n Chips?

With iwatch_ueat and liverpool


My quest to find the best Fish and Chips in Singapore brought me to Greenwood Fish Market. This place was reputed to sell really nice cold water fish, so this should be the place to find Singapore's greatest Fish and Chips.

But before I get to the Fish and Chips, I think you might be salivating over the picture of the pan-fried sole fillet in Bechamel Sauce above. Yes it was very good. This is part of the $19.90 set lunch which comes with Salmon Salad and Coffee or Tea. But the fish I wanted was not on the set meal menu so I ended up with the ala carte meal instead.

I chose to have the John Dory which is an excellent white fish from the southern waters. The John Dory is a real Dory unlike the commonly used Cream Dory and Pacific Dory which are really catfish. I suspect they call them Dory because of more expensive and sought after fish like the John Dory.

I used to enjoy pan fried John Dory in Australia. The flesh is delicate and it has a nice flavour almost akin to the Turbot. The John Dory is a deep sea fish, so its pretty ugly to look at and its distinction is a dark spot on its body which is sometimes referred to as St Peter's thumbprint. I have never had John Dory deep fried in batter before, but since it is such a nice (and expensive) fish, I thought it might make the ultimate Fish and Chips.



Ok to the verdict. How does this $24.90++ Fish and Chips compare to a $7.50 Fish and Chips?

The fish is fresh and delicate although I don't think the John Dory has a taste as distinct as something like Black Cod. It tastes like a good white fish but the flesh is more delicate than Sea Bass or Red Snapper. The batter is crispy and thin and done quite nicely. But the problem is that you don't get 5 times more satisfaction even though you pay almost 5 times the price. 4/5

Conclusion

Great place for fresh seafood and certainly reminds me of the fish and chips shops in Australia where you get to choose the type of fish you would like for your fish and chips. I think the John Dory would have tasted better grilled and should have settled for the house fish and chips ($17.50) instead which uses a New Zealand white fish.

Greenwood Fish Market & Bistro 34 Greenwood Avenue
Singapore 289236
Tel: 6467.4950
Hours:
Fish Market 11am - 10pm
Lunch 12pm - 2.30pm
Dinner 6.30pm - 10pm
Closed on Mondays and PH

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Tuckshop: Steak Sandwich that you can enjoy even with Dentures!

This stall is closed
With Damien and iwatch_ueat

Steak Sandwich $12.50

I have been searching for a good steak sandwich for ages and when Damien raved about this one at the newly opened Tuckshop, I thought I should check it out.

Now most of the time the problem with Steak Sandwiches is that you really need good teeth to eat it because most places use a cheap cut of beef which could pull out your dentures if you are not careful. (No I don't wear dentures.....yet)

Not here! I was amazed at how tender and delicious the generous cut of NZ tenderloin steak was. And it had a nice beefy flavour which was quite hard to get in tenderloin. Of course the beefiness still cannot beat a nicely char grilled USDA Prime Ribeye, but for $12.50, this is very pleasantly acceptable. The other really great thing is the whole Portabello mushroom and the caramelised sauteed onions that accompanies the steak. It just goes to show that sometimes you just need great ingredients rather than fancy recipes to make a great meal. 4.5/5


Halloumi Sandwich: $7.50

But the pleasant surprises don't stop there. Vegetarians will be glad to know that they have a very tasty Halloumi Sandwich which is made from a seared slice of Halloumi and topped with Hommus and lettuce. The combination worked wonders. The Halloumi is a cheese originating from Cyprus and is made from goat's milk. It does not melt when grilled and so it is an excellent substitute for a meat patty. I really won't mind going veg for a week if I had this for a substitute! 4.25/5


Fish and Chips $7.50

One more dish to recommend on this Pub Grub Roundub sic and that is the good old Fish and Chips! Actually Pub Grub is quite simple straightforward food since people usually go to a Pub for a drink and the food is just there in case you are hungry. But simple does not mean it is not satisfying and simple also does not mean that everyone gets it right. For Fish and Chips, there are really only three factors involved: Good Fish, Good Batter and a Good Cook. Get it all three right and you have a fantastically simple yet satisfying meal. Fortunately the Tuckshop gets it right on the three counts!

If you are starting to mumble about $7.50 being more expensive than the $4.50 fish and chips you get at the hawker centre, let me just say that you are paying for what you get. The most commonly used fish for fish and chips nowadays is the Cream Dory which is essentially the Catfish (pangasius hypopthalamus) farmed in Vietnam. The Cream Dory is farmed in ponds and grow very fast. Their cousin, the Pacific Dory (pangasius bocourti) has a cleaner taste and the flesh is more delicate but is more difficult to cultivate as they are farmed in cages along the Mekong River where there is a continual stream of fresh water. Cream Dory can sometimes taste a bit muddy depending on the farming conditions.

Needless to say, the Tuckshop uses Pacific Dory which justifies its higher price. The batter is light and crisp and thick cut fries are done very well. Well executed fish and chips! 4.25/5

Conclusion

Great place for some satisfying Pub Grub! For $12.50, this is the best Steak Sandwich I have come across in Singapore so far.

Tuckshop
21 Tanjong Pagar Road
#01-05
www.tuckshop.com.sg
Lunch till 2.30pm
Dinner last order 11pm

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Food for Thought: Nice People, Great Food, Social Causes, Decent Prices! I just love this place!

Once upon a time there were three very different little girls.....who grew up to be three very different women....but they have three things in common...they're bright...they're are passionate about God..... and they opened a Restaurant......The Restaurant's name is Food for Thought.

Charlie's Angels fans will recognize immediately the blasphemous adulteration of the opening lines to the TV series. Well, these aren't exactly Charlie's Angels but they are certainly Angels of a different type. And actually there is also a guy involved who can't be considered an Angel, so he's Bosley. And instead of Charlie, they report to a Boss who is also unseen but whose voice is sometimes heard.

Food for thought was founded by three young ladies and a guy with a passion for the underprivileged. Their first project was School of Thought which is a Tuition centre founded in 2002. The centre channeled some of the profits into a special fund to sponsor the tuition fees for underprivileged students. Food for Thought is their second project and one of the first causes they are supporting is to raise funds for the provision of clean water to third world countries.

The other thing that caught my attention was that their website stated that they don't like "paying a lot for very little" and "being asked to pay for tap water". Sounds like my kind of place! I looked at the Menu board and sure enough, soft drinks were $1.50 and Cappuccinos were $3 with no service charge or GST. These people are serious about what they say.


Sandwich Sampler $19.90 includes 2 soups, salad and different fillings for your Foccacia

The very first thing that struck me about the cafe was the atmosphere. It was very cosy and there was an air of joyful expectation. Chef David was busy behind the counter adding yeast to the flour to make the Foccacia and simultaneously entertaining diners. David was previously working at St Julien's but decided to become a hirling (hired by three and a half lady bosses no less - they tell me to consider Bosley a half) at the restaurant because he felt passionate about the cause.

David and his accomplice, Vietnam born, US Sous Chef, Peter managed to churn up quite an interesting array of dishes that are a refreshing twist from what you usually get at your friendly neighbourhood cafe.

We could not decide what to order so we asked for the Sampler which comprised of 2 soups, your choice of salad and a "do-it-yourself" sandwich set which featured the BBQed pulled pork, Mama Heng's Kong Bak (Braised Pork), Basil Pesto Chicken and Grilled Vegetables.

The TLC (tomato, lettuce and corn) salad was a misnomer as it did not have any lettuce in it. Instead it was made up of watercress, laksa leaves, tomatoes, lemongrass and warm sweet corn with a dollop of herbed butter. The combination worked amazingly well and I found it quite a refreshing excursion from the normal salads I was used to. 4.25/5

The must try dish for me was the BBQ pulled pork which is a whole pork shoulder slow roasted till all the collagen has been gelatinized, then pulled apart by hand. The result is melt in your mouth morsels of shredded pork with caramelized BBQ sauce. Not good.....Very Good! 4.5/5

Mama Heng is none other than Chef David's Mum and she makes a pretty mean Kong Bak. It was good but it's something that you can easily find elsewhere. Still it was great with the Foccacia Bread and Garlic scented Olive Oil. 4/5

They have two flavours of soups here which will appeal to people who are watching their weight. Both the Shitake Mushroom Fennel and Broccoli soup are made without cream. The Broccoli was good but most of the bite came from the cheese they added on top. The Mushroom soup could do with a bit more ooomph. Maybe I am just used to creamed soups. The portions are big and could constitute a meal in itself so take note when ordering. 3.5/5



Food for Thought is strategically located just opposite the National Library and with Coffees starting at $2.50, it's a great place to drop by to have a cuppa and a browse through the books that you just borrowed from the library. The cakes are sourced from various hidden talents in the community ie their friends and their momma's friends who are budding bakers and have a really nice homemade quality about them.

I seldom rave about cakes but I was rather taken by the Old Fashioned Red Velvet. One of my favourite cakes is my wife's Carrot Cake and the thing I enjoy most about it is the cream cheese frosting. The red velvet has a generous amount of frosting and a mesmerizing red colour which was a bit jarring at first. But wow, the combination of the cream cheese frosting and the mysterious red coloured cake was, to quote our dessert specialist, iwatch_ueat, "Almost perfect". I went back again later in the week to buy some more! By the way, you might be wondering what gives it that red colour......I wonder too. Guess you will have to go find out! 4.75/5

Conclusion

I just like this happy little cafe. It's a bit quirky, a bit old fashioned yet it's confident and exudes an atmosphere of youthful exuberance that is refreshing to the soul. The people here are happy and happiness is contagious. Come in for a pulled pork sandwich and finish it off with the Red Velvet and a cup of coffee and I can almost guarantee that you will go home happy too.

Oh yes, the picture on the right shows David and Peter carrying their Mega Sampler Board. If you have a group of friends coming in for the sampler, they will pile it all up on your very own bar top counter! ($10 per pax)

Food for Thought

420 North Bridge Road

North Bridge Centre

#01-06

9am to 10 plus daily
Last order at 9pm
Closed on Sundays
www.foodforthought.com.sg

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