Nick Vina Artisan Bakery

One of the perks of working in the CBD is the many delicious lunch options within walking distance. So when I was meeting a friend for lunch the other day I had no hesitation to accommodate her by going somewhere near her workplace at Tanjong Pagar.
With only one hour's time, we went into the Icon Village and found Nick Vina Artisan Bakery at a hidden corner of the shopping mall. Although the lunch promotion had finished 15 minutes before our arrival, the staff very kindly let us order the lunch set. 

A simple lunch set of picnic ham sandwich, brownie and fruit juice

The bread is definitely a winner. After being re-heated in the toaster oven, the crust was crispy and crumbly. The inside was fluffy, with the aroma of wheat. The ham, however, was no better than the luncheon ham sold at any supermarket. It was thankfully rescued by a dressing of mustard and apple chutney, which added both sweetness and acidity to the otherwise bland filling of ham and lettuce.
A meal always ends better with a nice dessert and lunch is no different. Their brownie was firm but moist and the top was slightly crumbly. The richness of the chocolate was occasionally interrupted by the generous amount of crunchy walnut. Its small serving was just enough to be satisfying without giving you the sense of guilt.

I could not help myself but selected something from their small range of artisan bread. I bought their mini walnut and was impressed by the aroma and the flavour of the sourdough. Chopped pieces of walnuts and black sesame seeds were scattered evenly in the small bun. It made a delicious breakfast even in the following day. 

Despite the high quality of the bread, the price are very affordable. The lunch set cost only SGD$5 and their pastry and bread ranged from $1-$5. If Nick Vina was any closer to my home I'm sure I would be a frequent customer there!

Nick Vina Artisan Bakery

#01-54/55 Icon Village

12 Gopeng Street

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 

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

Doong Ji

Until recently my impression of Korean consisted mainly of kimchi and barbeque meat. Never a fan of overly spicy or medicinal food (ginseng chicken anyone?), it has never quite appeal to my appetite. The generic names of the dishes in their menu do not help either. Stir fried beef, spicy seafood soup and spicy pork stew sound as Chinese as they do Korean. But my encounter with Korean fair at this small Korean restaurant was pleasantly enjoyable.

One Google search will tell you that there is no lack of Korean eateries in Singapore. As I live in the east I feel obliged to try the restaurants in this part of the city. Located along East Coast Road, Doong Ji is easily accessible by bus. The shop front could probably cater for no more than 50 patrons and all the walls were decorated with puzzles, small paintings and wall arts like this one.

After orders are taken we were served six different side dishes. The kimchi was disapointingly bland and soggy. The mash potato was creamy and slightly sweet, with a few peas and chopped carrots inside. The jelly with the spicy paste was nice too, although I had no idea what it was made of. Refill was available upon request.

This is the non-spicy glass noodles with beefs. The noodles, made of sweet potato starch, became translucent and springy after cooking and mopped up all the juices and goodness released from the other ingredients. They were stir-fried with beef, fried mushrooms, finely sliced carrots, slice onions and mung bean sprouts, with spring onions and sesame sprinkled on the top. The beef was juicy and tender and the beans sprouts stood out with its crunchiness and its unique flavour.

The seafood pancake came with a salty and sour dipping sauce. While the sauce was not to my liking, I found the pancake tasty enough on its own. It was bouncy and stretchy and pan-fried to give a slightly crispy edge. Topped with prawns, squid, and spring onion it was a delicious appetiser.  

The beef soup was another non-spicy dish, not to be fooled by the two slivers of chillie for garnishing. It was a stew of beef slices, onions, mushrooms, garlic and glass noodles. The meat and the onion have released all its sweetness in the soup and the glass noodles remained springy and al dente, despite being soaked in the soup (am I allowed to use that description in non-Italian cuisine?). While a bit too sweet and salty on its own, this dish could only truly be appreciated with white rice. The rich flavours of the soup were absorbed by the plain rice and the grains of rice also added to the texture of the stew. 

While I cannot comment on the authenticity of the food, both the flavours and the servings of the dishes at Doong Ji were well above average. The waiting staff also provided good customer service. This is somewhere I would recommend for casual and affordable Korean dining. 

Doong Ji

222 East Coast Road

Paul

Since the opening of Paul's Singaporean outlet at Takashimaya, the only item I have tried from them was take-away croissant, which was not nearly enough to satisfy my craving for decent French pastry. 

I wanted to treat myself to a nice breakfast and it was a no-brainer-decision to go to Paul. They have closed off the main dining area so I got a table by the inside the mall. Otherwise it would have been nice to sit by the window with a view of Orchard Road. 

Several breakfast sets were available on the menu, most consisting of French bread or a croissant and a hot drink of your choice, with an option of an additional juice. (And I have to say that having both a cold and a hot drink in the same morning meal is a very French thing.) Waffles, pancakes and full breakfast sets with eggs were also on the menu. Not wishing for anything too heavy, I ordered a Petit Déjeuner Parisien.

My café au lait was smooth and milky. The mellow coffee is nice when you do not feel like something too strong for breakfast. 

Included in the breakfast set was half a loaf of flûte. Although it did not look much to start with, it was actually quite filling! The freshly toasted bread had a golden brown thin crust and a soft and fluffy interior. Topped with the creamy butter and apricot jam, it made a delicious breakfast.

I also brought home a loaf of pain complet. The wholemeal, sourdough bread was aromatic, dense and flavourful. Air bubbles randomly scattered throughout the loaf, giving it a spongy and coarse texture. I made sandwiches with it for lunch and it had kept well for the next few days.

After enjoying the delicious bread from Paul, it will be impossible to go back to having supermarket bread!

PAUL
#03-16/17, Takashimaya Shopping Centre
391 Orchard Road

Tamoya

Tamoya at Liang Court is a Japanese eatery specialising in udon. Their menu is as simple as their design of the restaurant. Orders from customers are taken at the counter, just like a fast food outlet. The udon is available in 5-6 hot or cold varieties and comes with option toppings of beef, pork or curry chicken. The noodles are prepared on the other side of the counter and passed to you when they are ready. A variety of tampura can be added to the tray as you move along the bench. Payment is then made at the cashier according to your selection of side dishes and noodle. Customers can help themselves with the sauce and condiments such as ginger and seaweed from a station at the centre of the shop. 

When I went there on a weekday afternoon, there were not a lot side dishes available. I picked the basic Kake udon and a few vegetable tampura. Although seemingly a simple dish, the broth was delicious without being too salty. The udon noodles were thick and smooth with a lot of bite.

The tampura was all quite cold, after being left on the counter for some time. The batter was no longer crispy but they were still quite flavourful. I preferred the shitake mushrooms and the pumpkin. 

Tamoya is worth the visit if you are craving some good udon or you just want a light and fuss free meal. The portion of the udon was a bit small so a larger size is available. Perhaps the timing of my visit was unfortunate but I would like to see a wider selection of side dishes.

Tamoya

#01-32, 177 River Valley Road, Liang Court

Jamie's Italian in Singapore & The Addams Family Musical

Having lunch at Jamie's Italian at Covent Garden was one of the highlights of my trip to London. After years of watching his cooking shows and repeated attempts of replicating his recipes, going to one of Jamie Oliver's restaurants was a dream come true. That meal was such a wonderful experience so I was thrilled to know that he decided to open his first outlet in Asia in a country I'm living in!

After watching the musical, the four of us headed to Vivo City for an Italian treat at the newly opened Jamie's Italian.
The interior and the vibe of the restaurant is consistent with other branches. Wooden sturdy tables, metal outdoorsy chair, lots of natural lighting during the day and candles for the night and cans and cookbooks stacked up to the ceiling created a casual and comfortable dining environment. 

It would be wrong not to start the meal with the Italian bread selection. Warm crusty bread with fragrant extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Enough said. 

Jamie's walnut salad was a crunchy combination of salad greens, baby beets and chopped walnuts. The bitterness from the leaves was well balanced by the sweet balsamic dressing.

Honeycomb cannelloni three-ways was filled with aubergine and sun-dried tomato, pumpkin and spinach and ricotta cheese and baked in a tomato-based sauce. The cannelloni was creamy and delicious. Pumpkin was my favourite!

Prawn linguine was my favourite pasta dish of tonight. The prawns were juicy and the thin pasta, cooked to al dente, was perfect for the delicate sauce of tomato, fennel and chilli. 

This was the tagliatelle bolognese. The flat pasta had a slightly rough texture and had absorbed the intense sweetness from the mince and aromatic tomato sauce. The generous serving of Parmesan cheese gave the sauce extra richness. 

Vongole tagliolini was slightly bland when compared to other pasta. The clams were a bit small and dry and the sauce was a bit spicy. 

The smooth and creamy tiramisu was an unbeatable dessert. The orange flavour lightened the heaviness of the mascarpone cheese and the bitter espresso. I enjoyed every bite of this. 

Brioche con gelato, quitely literally, consisted of lemon and strawberry ice-creams sandwiched between two brioche buns. Despite the lovable presentation, this was just an average dessert. The ice-creams were melting quite quickly and the brioche became soggy after absorbing the melted ice-cream. The best part of the dish was the lemon ice-cream, which was refreshingly sour and icy.

Although the menu was not as extensive, the standard of the food here at the Singaporean branch was comparable to the one I tried in London. Their pasta, made freshly on site, is definitely something I would come back for. I had expected better customer service after reading several reviews complimenting their waiting staff. The server for our table was absent for most of the night and we had trouble locating a waiter for ordering and the bill. I look forward to my next meal here (which I am sure won't be long), hopefully with more variety on the menu.

Jamie's Italian
1 Harbour Front Walk, Vivo City
#01-165-167

The Addams Family Musical from Broadway was on tour and we bought tickets to watch it on their last day in Singapore. Without much expectations, it turned out to be one of the most entertaining stage performance I have seen.
The songs were catchy and energetic and filled with comical lyrics. There were a lot of dance routines and all the choreography was amazing. Jennifer Fogarty who played Wednesday had an incredibly powerful voice and the sweetest face. Keleen Snowgren and Jesse Sharp shared great dynamics as Morticia and Gomez. Jeremy Todd Shinder who played Pugsley probably had the weakest voice among the cast and struggled with some high notes. 
In this production Wednesday introduced to the Addams her "normal" boyfriend and his parents, who came to visit the family from Ohio. It is definitely an experience that most of us can relate to and the father-and-daughter scene had even made me shed a few tears. 
From the cast to the costume I have thoroughly enjoyed this musical. I have yet been able to stop playing the soundtrack on my phone.