Pietro

While big crowds was heading to the city to watch the annual F1 Grand Prix, we headed to the opposite direction for an Italian restaurant in the North area.
Pietro is a casual dining restaurant opened by a Chinese chef. Although not located at the most accessible street, the place was at least half full on this particular Sunday evening, which I took as a good sign. The menu was quite extensive, with more than a dozen dishes recommended as chef specials written on a blackboard on the wall.
While we were still deciding what to have, our complimentary bread was already brought to the table. By the time we finished placing the order and started digging in, the bread was already half cold. Instead of olive oil or butter, it was served with a creamy dipping sauce, which strangely reminded me of canned mushroom soup. The bread itself was sliced unusually thin and its taste (or the lack of it) and texture quite resembled cardboard paper. If it is true that you can judge the culinary standard of a restaurant by their bread, then my expectation for the meal to follow had definitely been lower.

I have never been a fan of lobster bisque. There is something in the combination of the thick liquid and its flavours that I find nauseating.  And my opinion remained unchanged after trying Pietro's creation, which was slightly lighter on with consistency and flavours.

The Pizza Romana was served next. The thin base was covered with tomato sauce, ham, slivers of mushrooms, melted mozzarella and chopped parsley. It was claimed to be baked in a wood fire oven. There was nothing about the dish in which I could find fault, or to praise really. The crust was baked just enough to crisp up without being burnt but it lacked the smokiness produced from a wood fire oven.

The ravioli with seabass and scallop in seafood sauce was one of the chef's specials. It was not for this dish I would not think it was worth the journey to come here at all. The tender seabass was wrapped in pasta sheet cooked perfectly to al dente, which was served in a creamy tomato-based sauce containing slices of scallop (so small it was almost unnoticeable) and tiny flakes of chilli. The pillows of pasta was flavourful and the sauce was rich and creamy, with sweetness from the seafood and a mild kick from the chilli. It was a much better job than the pizza. 

Attention to details does not seem to be the forte of the owner of Pietro. None of the serving plates was warmed up. The pizza was cut off centre to present slices of different sizes and shapes. A picture of the Eiffel Tower was hung on the wall in a restaurant serving Italian cuisine. The dishes lacked a sense of genuinity and pride that would have to originate from an Italian chef cooking food from his home country. 

Given the affordable pricing range and the wide variety of main course, Pietro may just survive as a family style restaurant. 

Pietro

12 Jalan Kelulut 

Motoring Heritage Day

To me car talk is as foreign as Hebrew. My descriptions of motor vehicles usually start and end with its colour. But that did not stop me from paying a visit to the Motoring Heritage Day at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. 

Videos from the Grand Prix in 1960's

 One of the vintage bicycles

which is identical to one that was given to the late John Paul II as a gift

Sketches made by visitors on site

 The very flashy Alfa Romeo

 I wonder what this honk would sound like! 

Cute frog eye lights and emerald green

This would make a sweet wedding ride.

We joined one of the guided tours, which included briefing on each model by an enthusiastic volunteer who was occasionally joined by the owners of the vehicles themselves. I certainly am not fluent in the car talk but I have definitely learnt a thing or two. In a way vintage cars are not that much different from an ideal feminine figure from the 1950's; both were voluptuous, curvy and glamorous. 

This was my second time in Tanjong Pagar Railway Station that is no longer in operation and my fondness for it has definitely grown. From its exterior façade in art deco style and the lobby with plenty of natural light flooding through large windows, decorated with long panels of paintings depicting daily activities of early day Malaysians, to the long empty platform and the part of rails which has survived after the closure of the station, everything about it oozed a sense of elegant nostalgia. Instead of spoiling the day out, the light drizzle did the opposite by enhancing the beauty of the venue. I hope this place will continue to be put to good use with more interesting exhibitions!

Strangers Reunion

Before we headed to Tanjor Pagar Railway station for Motor Heritage Day, we stopped by Strangers Reunion for brunch.

It was not yet noon and the café was already packed with the hungry Sunday crowd, among whom were mostly groups of casually dressed 20- and 30- something, a few couples and families. The owner has made good use out of every corner of the shop front by setting up bar stools and a high table by the window and arranging tables closely together. The bright lighting, the high ceiling and the off-white walls managed to keep it from being claustrophobic. The fresh daisies on the benches and the Chinese ink paintings were definitely nice touches.

The cappuccino was presented with a cute latte art. The foam was creamy and thick and the coffee was rich and full-bodied without too much acidity. While I enjoyed the flavour of the coffee, it was not hot enough! My first sip was almost lukewarm. Otherwise it would have made me a much happier customer.

The buttermilk waffle was very crunchy and crumbled as I cut through it. Although a bit too dry, it absorbed the sweet and aromatic maple syrup like a sponge. 

W ordered the ham and goat cheese omelette on ciabatta. The ham tasted like nothing more than the apple baked ham from the supermarket deli and there was so little goat cheese it was barely noticeable. I loved the tangy salsa on the top, which added contrasting flavour and texture to the egg. 

It felt very comfortable and homey here at Strangers Reunion. Even the waiting staff gave out the wrong food more than once, they were all quite friendly. While the food was just average, their coffee was definitely worth a try.

Strangers Reunion
33/35/37 Kampong bahru Road

Lady M Confections

All the way from the Upper East Side of New York, the cake boutique Lady M Confections has arrived in Singapore. With its white walls, white furnitures and minimal decorations, the new glossy restaurant felt casual and elegant at the same time. 

Without a second glimpse of their other pastries, I instantly ordered the Mille Crêpes, their signature cake. Exactly 20 (not 1000 despite its name) thin crêpes were stacked on top of each other, with just the right amount of light pastry cream spread between layers. Every bite was soft and delicate, infused with the fragrance of vanilla and egg. The top was gently cameralised to give its golden gloss. 

Gâteau aux Marrons was another lovely creation. A generous amount of airy whipped cream was sandwiched between two layers of sponge cake made of almond flour, which was topped with beautiful pipings of chestnut-infused cream and sprinkled with some crunchy chopped walnuts. The combination of the creamy texture and the nutty flavour was irresistible. The only fault was the slightly overcooked edge of the almond flour cake.

When we arrived on a Friday evening about 1.5 hour before its closing time, there were not many cake choices left. The Mille Crêpes and cheesecakes seemed to be the most popular. Unlike its American counterpart, there was no savoury dishes on the menu. I can see myself coming back again, perhaps at an earlier time of the day for their many others famous desserts.

Lady M
#02-103, Marina Square Shopping Mall
6 Raffles Boulevard

Ikoi Japanese Restaurant

On a Sunday evening we found ourselves at Ikoi, a Japanese restaurant on ground floor of Hotel Miramar. Same as all the other patrons on the night, we were there for its buffet.

Within two hours, we could order anything on the buffet menu, which included sashimi, nigiri sushi, maki sushi, deep-fried and grilled items, rice, noodles and some side dishes such as salads. The extensive drink menu included Japanese beers, sake, cocktails, juices and soft drinks. Just like the desserts, they were not included in the price of the buffet.
There were a few complimentary dishes, the first one being the salmon sashimi seasoned with a light soy-based sauce. Miso soup was not presented in individual portions, but in a pot still boiling above a burning candle to be shared between the two of us. The fat from the salmon was released into the soup, which was too oily for my taste. After the candle burnt out, globules of fat was floating on the surface, which was not a pretty sight. We were presented with a second rather salty soup, which was served in a teapot with a lime for seasoning. With all the other delicacies from the menu waiting to be ordered, we pretty much left the soups untouched. 

While there were not many different types of sashimi available, what they offered was fresh and delicious. The tuna and salmon were thick, tender and sweet and the cuttlefish was crunchy. The snapper (not photographed) was sliced so thin that it was transparent.

We ordered tempura of prawn, eggplant, mushroom, cuttlefish, fish, lotus root and onion. Comparing to their sashimi the tempura was a bit disappointing. The batter was not crispy enough and the prawn was mushy. Whiting tempura tasted like the kind of soggy battered fish that would be served with chips. The lotus root was cut too thick, making it hard to eat.

Yakitori was juicy and the sauce was a nice balance between sweet and savoury. But W complained that it lacked the smokiness from the grill.

We did not manage to try many side dishes as we were too full from having sashima. The cold udon was silky smooth and slightly springy, despite being soaked in the dipping sauce. 

The seating was quite cramped and not very comfortable as waiters tried to squeeze between tables and chairs throughout the whole night. Most of the dishes we tried were mediocre, with the exception of the sashimi and sushi. Do not expect to have an abundant Japanese feast here but for $45 I am not complaining. 

Ikoi Japanese Restaurant
#01-01 Hotel Miramar
401 Havelock Road

Artichoke Café + Bar

Craving for something a bit more unusual, we decided to have a girls' night out at Artichoke Café + Bar for a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean experience. Hidden at the back of the Sculpture Square on Middle Road, this restaurant is not quite noticeable unless for those who know its existence. For those who have managed to find it, they will find themselves surrounded by walls decorated with chalk drawings and unpolished wooden furniture and rustic metal lamp shields. With both indoor and alfresco dining areas and upbeat jazz music, the ambience was cosy and homey. 

Another first impression of the place was the rather limited choice of food. In fact its drinks menu was at least twice the length of the food menu. They offered about 6-7 different dips, a few appetizers and main courses and a handful of desserts. They were two specials of the night.

The hummus was a flavourful blend of chickpeas, zesty lemon juice and fragrant tahini. The red paprika and the garlic added a contrasting sweetness and a mild kick.

The baba ganoush is a slightly chunky dip made from roasted and mashed eggplant, tahini, lemon juice and olive oil. Comparing to the hummus, it was rather bland and had way too much lemon, whose flavour had overpowered the smokiness of the eggplant. The hero of the dish was the pomegranate seeds, which shone like red jewels in the dull-looking spread and released its fruitiness in your mouth.
There was nothing Turkish about the Turkish bread that we ordered. It was slices of white French loaf drizzled with olive oil. Nevertheless we smeared the spread generously on the bread.

Grilled hamoumi cheese turned out to be a winner. Made from a mixture of cow, goat and sheep's milk, the block of cheese stayed firm and springy after cooking. The lightly browned crust was a bit crispy and the interior was gooey and soft. The cherry tomatoes, gem lettuce with sunflower sprouts made up a simple but refreshing salad. 

So far the lamb I have eaten in Singapore has yet to impress me but this slow roast leg of lamb was not bad. The flavours from the herbs were infused into the meat, which was so succulent and tender that it fell of the bone as the fork touched it. 
It was served with some pickled cucumber, carrots and radish and a garlicky sauce. The pickles were very tangy and strangely addictive. The creamy sauce was spicy and failed to complement the rest of the dish.  It was left pretty much untouched.

Recommended by a waiting staff, the pan-fried kingfish was one of the specials. The skin was golden brown and crispy and the fish underneath was tender and delicious and literally melted in my mouth. We only wished the fillet was bigger. 

Attached to the side of the restaurant is a small bakery called Overdough. Sweet treats such as baklava, brownies and tarts can be ordered to be served at Artichoke. This passion fruit meringue had a crunchy and buttery pastry, which was the best part of the dessert. The meringue was not light or fluffy enough and did not have any height. The filling was a bit too thick and sticky and lacked the tangy flavours of the passion fruit.  

Oreo cookie cheesecake block was another mediocre dessert. Kids would have loved it though. 

While most of the food was enjoyable, the portion was quite small. The main courses did not come with any carbohydrate (eg potato) so they were not that filling either. As some bloggers have rightly pointed out, the waiting staff here can improve on their customer service (although there were one or two waitresses who were very friendly and cheerful, including the one who helped us with the group photograph). Although it is claimed to be a Middle-Eastern restaurant, many of the dishes are simply western food with a Middle-Eastern twist such as steak with hibiscus salt and roast lamb with condiments. 
Artichoke is a nice place for an after-work drink or a coffee in a lazy afternoon, less so for a sit-down dinner. 

Artichoke Café + Bar
161 Middle Road

Tiong Bahru

Although Singapore is commonly acknowledged as one of the smallest countries in the world map, there are still many parts of the island that I have yet to set foot in. Until today, Tiong Bahru was one of them.

According to local as well as international media such as Lonely Planet, CNN and even Ming Pao in Hong Kong, it is an old neighbourhood which has undergone some major transformation, turning it into one of the hip districts for the expats and young, trendy locals. 

While a generic, multi-level shopping mall stood at one side of the Tiong Bahru MRT station, an old-fashioned shopping complex remained outside the other exit of the train station, probably from decades ago by its beaten appearance.

Among the fruit stall, optical store and a hawker centre was 良辰美點 (Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastry), a family-run bakery selling Hong Kong style buns and pastries of about a dozen different types. While I walked past I could see the family kneading and shaping the dough by hand around a big working bench behind the front counter. Trays of unbaked buns and tarts were stacking on top of each other. The round and shiny egg tarts caught my eyes and I had to try one. The crunchy and buttery tart base crumbled in my mouth as I bit into it. The generous serving of filling made of eggs, evaporated milk and vanilla extract was pillow-soft and silky smooth. 

About two blocks away from the MRT station is Yong Siak Street, where the weekend crowds come for their caffeine fix and photography-lovers come to capture images of nostalgia. 
Surrounded by the tall iconically Singaporean HDB blocks, the residential buildings along this street were only 2-3 levels high, with the ground flood rented out as shop houses. This is where the new Tiong Bahru began.

Started as an online website, Books Actually is an independent book shop owned by two Singaporeans and stocks primarily local literature and rare-to-find books. From Sigmund Freud, Lee Kwan Yuen to the latest Singaporean poet, from sociology, economy to pop culture, the book collection here aims to provide variety and appeal to a wide local audience. At the back of the shop is a gift shop section cramped with vintage items such as second-hand kitchenware, beer bottles, cassettes and cassette players, black and white photographs of celebrities and unknowns, buttons and badges. There was also a column dedicated to vintage books, one of which made me sneeze as soon as I opened it. Another side of their business is publishing works written by local writers.

Not far from Books Actually was Woods in the Books, a shop that I know my mum would be crazy about if she came here when we were kids. Almost like a sister store to Books Actually, it is a children's book shop, stocking colourful picture books, story books, beautifully designed pop-up books, phone-book-thick encyclopaedia, etc. A group of school-age kids were learning to draw a crocodile in a painting class in the back room during my visit.

Strangelets is a lifestyle store with minimal decoration, allowing customers to focus all their attention on their products. Here one can expect to find interesting designs from bags and jewellery to toys and kitchenware and gorgeous body soups and beautifully packaged scented candles. 

Tiong Bahru has become quite a popular destination among foodies. Forty Hands, Tiong Bahru Bakery, Orange Thimble and Drips Bakery Café made up the vibrant cafés scene. Western restaurants are in abundance, such as Open Door Policy, SocialHaus and Two Face Pizza and Taproom, just to name a few. For some Japanese fair, you can head to Ikyu, which serves modern Japanese cuisine. Not wishing to burn a hole in your pocket? There was a hawker centre almost at every corner of the street.

A stroll away was the Tiong Bahru Market. Above the wet market on the ground floor was a hawker centre occupying the whole level, where some locals would claim to find some of the best hawker food in Singapore.

With its quiet alleyways, bustling wet market, quirky designer stores and boutique cafés, Tiong Bahru is a charming neighbourhood as well as a harmonious blend of Singapore's past and present.