Tiong Bahru Bakery

After a dissatisfying dinner at NamNam Noodle Bar, I was in need of some nice and fulfilling desserts. Walking past Tiong Bahru Bakery at the corner of the basement of the Raffles Shopping Centre, I had my attention captured by their wonderful display of sandwiches, bread and pastries. Unable to resist the temptation, we sat down for some desserts.

Lemon Calamansi Tart was recommended by their staff as a best seller. The buttery pasty was filled with lemon custard, topped with a piece of white chocolate and some meringue sticks. The tangy lemon curd was smooth and gooey and had the right balance between sweet and sour. The tart, however, did not have enough crunch and could have done with a bit more time in the oven.

My love affairs with crumble started when I was in boarding school and it is definitely one of my favourite sweet treats. They had both apple and berry crumble and I chose the latter. To make it possible for takeaway, they had put the berry mixture on a layer of pastry, which was so buttery that it had overpowered the rest of the dessert. There was not enough fruits in the berry sauce and the crumble on the top was not crunchy enough. Overall the pastry tasted too heavy and needed more freshness from the berries. It would probably have tasted better if served warm rather than room temperature.

With a menu including coffee, sandwiches and soups, Tiong Bahru Bakery is more of a café than a bakery. Seating is very comfortably spaced with very cute pencil-legged tables that you can see in the picture above. Even though their desserts were not the best I'd still like to return to try the coffee and danishes.

Tiong Bahru Bakery
#B1-11/12, 252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Shopping Centre

NamNam Noodle Bar

NamNam Noodle Bar is a casual Vietnamese eatery that has recently gained some good reviews. The long queue that can be seen at their outlets all the time seems to be a prove of their growing popularity. I decided to give it a try while I was at the Raffles Shopping Centre one night for dinner.

Their simple menu focuses on baguettes and some soup and dry noodles. Pho is available with different type of beef of choice, including steak slices, Wagyu beef slices and beef balls. Other noodles bowls are served with chicken, pork or seafood such as prawn and fish cake. They obviously try to cater for the health-conscious and the baguette, noodle bowl and salad are all available as vegetarian. 

The seating was a bit cramped and we only managed to get the bar seats. The design of the restaurant was quite quirky with walls covered by old newspaper in Vietnamese. On each table was an assortment of sauces, including the Vietnamese staple fish sauce and chilli.

The signature Pho with beef steak slices was rather disappointing. The broth lacked the rich flavour and aroma from the various spices and herbs and there were not enough bean sprouts and Thai basil. The beef slices were too thick and tough to bite. 

Banh Mi with caramalised 5-spice pork belly and pork pate were served warm and the bread was lightly toasted for a crispy crust. The pork belly was attached with quite a bit of fat but the chopped carrots and cucumber and the tangy mayo dressing took the greasiness away. It was far from the authentic baguette which I had in Ho Chi Minh City, which had way more pickles, chilli and vegetables, but was still enjoyable. 

For a restaurant that claims itself a noodle bar, NamNam did not live up to my expectations with its Pho. There are other restaurants in Singapore offering much more authentic and tastier Vietnamese cuisine (such as Long Phung on Joo Chiat Road) with a more extensive menu. Their Banh Mi is worth a try for a quick lunch but I would not count on it for an authentic Vietnamese treat.

NamNam Noodle Bar
#B1-46/47, 252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Shopping Centre

Yonehachi

The basement of Takashimaya is good for quick bites. There are stalls selling Japanese donuts, Korean pancakes, salads, smoothies, pastries and sandwiches on-the-go. And there are Indian, Thai and Vietnamese food in the food court, apart from the usual (and quite boring) fairs.
The other side of the basement has a few casual Japanese dining options, Yonehachi being one of them. Setting itself apart from the other stalls selling ramen and udons, Yonehachi specialises in the traditional Okowa rice. The steamed short-grained glutinous rice is available with different mix-ins of your choice, including red bean, chestnut, scallop or salmon.

My red bean Okowa with deep-fried prawn. The side dishes, including a miso soup, a salad with Japanese mayonnaise, steamed vegetables, green beans and seaweed, gave a great variety of different flavours and texture. The steamed slices of daikon, mushroom, pumpkin and lotus root were not overcooked and lightly seasoned with soy sauce. The sweet glutinous rice was slightly chewy and extremely filling. The crunchy red bean and the roasted black sesame had a nice contrasting texture. The prawns were, however, too dry and covered by too much batter. It was the least impressive component in the set.

Scallop and seaweed Okowa with deep-fried chicken and hot soba. This Okowa was more salty but equally tasty. My companion was not a fan of hot soba and would have preferred the cold version. Again the chicken was over-fried and a bit dry for me.

Despite being in a food court, seating was still arranged by staff who would also bring the meals to the tables. Although the service was a bit slow, the food was overall quite nice. Given their affordable price range, I would be interested in coming back to try their other sets.

Yonehachi
#B2-04-1/2, 391 Orchard Road
Takashimaya Food Hall
Ngee Ann City

Antoinette Revisit

There are a few things that make a restaurant perfect for a girl's night out: yummy food, cosy chairs, relaxing ambience. My first visit to Antoinette for brunch was enjoyable so it came to my mind again when I arranged a dinner date with a girl friend. Most of their outlets do not accept reservations so we went to the one on Penhas Road to avoid the annoyingly long queue. 

Bouchées aux Fruits de Mer (Seafood in puff pastry case) ordered by my companion

I almost thought that they made a mistake when my order arrived. Instead of the burger buns that I imagined, Burger Antoinette looked more like a sandwich to me. Never the less the chicken patty was tasty and the pan-fried apple slice was juicy and refreshing. The pommery mustard mayonnaise added a mild heat. But I was not very satisfied by the potato crisps that were served alongside the salad as I had expected the "chips" on the menu to be French fries. Some fluffy chunky chips would have gone much better with the sandwich than the thin, greasy crisps.

 Iced chocolate

Display of chocolates, macaroons and cakes at the counter

Le Royale was a lovely combination of chocolate and hazelnuts. The smooth and rich dark chocolate mousse and the sponge cake at the bottom sandwiched a layer of airy almond meringue. The hazelnut feuilletine in the middle gave it a crispy and nutty contrast in texture. 

Kyoto was a much lighter dessert. The mascarpone mousses outside was infused with green tea. Hidden in the centre was the creamy chestnut crémeux which was a delightful complement to the mousse. 

The Charlotte macaroon had vanilla cream and strawberry coulis as its filling. It was too sweet for me and I could not taste any element of strawberry. But I have never been a big fan of macaroons so I am probably not the best judge.

I could not help but be reminded of Angelina in Paris by the range of desserts and the shop design of Antoinette. Dining at the classically French tearoom was such a decadent culinary experience which I believe would be difficult to exceed. Unfortunately the magical feeling that Antoinette first gave me has much diminished. I also was not impressed by their service, especially when the restaurant was not that full. My water glass only got refilled after many requests and it took them a good five minutes to get us forks for the desserts. While the desserts were delectable, their main courses were quite overpriced. I know I will not be in a hurry to return for the third time.

Antoinette

30 Penhas Road

WaWaWa

Since getting bicycles of our own, we have been trying out different park connectors in the East. The route leading to the Bedok Reservoir was one that we found quite pleasant and easily manageable.

A segment of the Berlin Wall in the Bedok Reservoir Park

The only eatery available in the Bedok Reservoir Park is called WaWaWa. Popular among joggers it is a casual dining café serving western meals with a bar serving a variety of alcoholic beverages.

As an appetizer we ordered the lobster bisque. It was creamy but the flavour fell short of the richness that the soup should have.

The mini beef burgers were one of the chef's recommendations. The beef patties were thick and juicy and did not get overpowered by the barbeque sauce or the gooey melted cheese. The buns were toasted to give a slightly burnt edge, adding a contrasting texture and smokiness to the meat. The French fries was exactly how I liked them: thick and fluffy strips of potato covered by a golden crust lightly seasoned by pepper without too much salt.

The bacon & prawn aglio olio was another one of their best sellers. However the pasta was shop bought and rather tasteless and the sauce was a bit bland. It failed to wow us from presentation to the taste.

The dessert menu was rather limited and we picked the recommended Wawawa chocolate lava cake. Although not exactly Valrhona-rich, the warm chocolate cake was tasty, with dense, liquefied chocolate oozing out and flooding the plate as soon as we cut into it. Unfortunately the vanilla ice-cream was, again, ready-made and tasted very artificial.

Given its wallet-friendly price range, Wawawa is worth visiting for its relaxing environment by the water. Food is simple without much surprise. I do hope that more restaurants can be opened up around that area to provide more choices as well as competition.

Wawawa
901 Bedok Reservoir Road 

Sunset in the park

Chock Full of Beans

It is said that 早餐食得多，午餐食得好，晚餐食得少. To follow that I reckon brunch should be good food in abundance! 

I first found out about Chock Full of Beans from a photo posted on Facebook by a colleague so I was looking forward to trying their coffee on that Saturday morning. Tucked away at the corner of Changi Village, their shopfront was small and cosy and most seating was alfresco. The tables were quite close to each other and there was not a single empty seat when we arrived, which was a prove of the popularity of this coffee joint.

They are very creative with their coffee art and were most accommodating when I asked for Totoro on my cappuccino! Not only did I enjoy the presentation, but also the coffee itself. It was delicious and creamy and the foam was soft and smooth. I was drinking it with much unnecessary caution so not to disturb the pattern until the end :P 

It was definitely the best cappuccino I have had in Singapore.

The iced latte was also skilfully decorated with a beautiful coffee art. It was a tasty drink on a hot summer day without being too syrupy.

Chock Full of Big Breakfast was their take of the full English breakfast. Scrambled egg was soft without being overcooked, served with thick multigrain bread that had been slightly toasted. W enjoyed the crispy bacon but the chicken sausages were a bit bland in comparison. 

Bagel and cream cheese is always a winning combo. The bagel was doughy and dense and the sesame crust was crispy.  

I was feeling greedy when I ordered the brûlée French toast served with peach, maple syrup and whipped cream with seasonal mixed fruits. The thick, golden-crusted toast absorbed the goodness of the syrup like a sponge and the almond slivers added the much needed crunch. 

From the coffee and the coffee art to the relaxing environment and friendly staff, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at CFOB. I could only wish it was closer to my home.

Chock Full of Beans
#01-2090, Block 4, Changi Village Road

While waiting for our table we had the opportunity to wander around the neighbourhood of the Changi Village. Among the bike shops, bakeries and restaurant was a small café selling pastries and puffs. The menu was limited but the mango crêpe that we tried was surprisingly tasty. Filled with fresh mango pieces and whipped cream, it was soft and fresh with just the right amount of sweetness. We liked it so much that we have already become returned customers!

Crêpe & Puffs
#01-2080, Block 4, Changi Village Road

Au Chocolat & The Art of the Brick

This year my birthday fell on the first day of Chinese New Year. Many of my friends were away in their Malaysian home towns while others were spending the holidays with their relatives. A Timbre party like last year seemed impossible, the day was quietly but pleasantly spent at Marina Bay Sands. 

First stop was brunch at Au Chocolat, a French inspired bistro occupying a large corner above the skating rink. Separated from the dining area was a confiserie selling all kinds of sweet treats, sliced cakes, gelati and merchandise. 

The charmingly decorated dining area

A train circling the shop on a suspended rail!

An excited crowd gathering in front of the café enjoying the lion dance

I ordered cappuccino while W ordered ice latte.

My coffee was not as rich as I'd like and the foam was not thick enough. 

Chicken dumpling in a consommé.

Not sure if the dumplings were Chinese-inspired but the pastry tasted very much like wanton skin! It was nice but not exactly what we would have ordered if it was not part of the set lunch. 

Pork belly with mash potato and garden vegetables.

The skin was crispy and the meat nicely seasoned without being too salty. The mash potato was silky smooth. Of course the boy complained about the small serving!

It took me some time to pick from the numerous desserts and I decided on the stuffed French toast. The cornflakes-coated brioche was extra crunchy and was covered with creamy mascarpone, a generous amount of refreshing berries and chocolate sauce. It was an indulgence for my sweet tooth!

Offering a wide variety of desserts and all-day breakfast, Au Chocolat is an obvious spot for brunch or afternoon tea. It has a whimsical atmosphere and waiters were attentive. Alternatives such as savoury crêpe, burger and meat dishes are also in the menu but obviously not their forte. I would not mind returning to sample their cakes next time!

Au Chocolat

Bay Level L1-03,

The Shopped at Marina Bay Sands

As a birthday treat W also took me to see the exhibition The Art of the Brick. It features sculptures and mosaics portraits made by Nathan Sawaya with nothing more than Lego bricks (and perhaps a bit of his specially-formulated glue) He is one of the thirteen Lego Professors and rightfully so. It was a spectacular exhibition for Lego fans of all ages.