House

An excuse to pass the girls the Laduree macarons = meet up right after my trip (cos the macs expires in 4 days, even with refrigeration), and we headed to satisfy Qians craving for fries at House, Dempsey. We initially checked out the Still Bar (which is at the previous Oosh, magnified +++, maybe we'll try Addictions Cafe one day..). Obviously as you can see its a carb party with Yam fries (my new favourite!!!), truffle fries and sweet potato nibblets. LOVED the apple cider in House, its got me ordering cider everywhere I go now, instead of Sangria. This place closes early  (1130 pm) which was a real surprise, I always thought the bar area would open till late (?). We took a detour towards Qians pool so Jas could educate me on my new toy ;) Still, Garfield's Diner remains a mystery.

Creperie Des Arts

Sat was dinner at Boss's place (long dark way in)  - bought lotsa amazing yummy gelato from Gelatissimo (the caramel and fig, and the berry pavlova is amazing stuff), and Sunday after Cello headed to Creperie Des Arts with J. Actually he wanted to go to Skyve but I remember being underfed there so we then wanted to go to Mount Emily but it seemed closed down (is it already gone???) and finally on our descend before hitting Artichoke, we landed up in Prinsep, and tried Creperie Des Arts (Prinsep Street), a place I've been wanting to try since the last creperie behind Raffles Hotel.

Since I was just back from Paris (think we only had one crepe meal!), this place was like welcome home;) or so I wish. Saw a huge poster of Mont St Michel (sigh), with people trekking across the waters- must have been before the causeway was built. The lady owner (Singaporean and with child, congrats!) married a French guy from Normandy, explaining the poster. Love the casual vibe of the place, though we were sweltering hot after the cheese fondue. Lotsa cheese as you can see- from the Cheese platter (goats, blue, camembert, chedder), and their special of a Cheese/cold meats platter. Basically, you place a slab of cheese on this mini pan, and you roast it under the stove till it melts then you scrap it off onto your potato/cold meat. The potatoes are in a ceramic bowl above the stove. Well well, its like reverse fondue. Would be nicer if the reverse was true, having all the cheese melted atop and the potatoes roasting below. Guess life is interesting that way! 

Had the crepe craving settled with the scallop/apple compote crepe -love the buckwheat crepe. Wholemeal things always have this nutty aroma with it, this is like a French Thosai, come to think of it. More scallops would be lovely!

Nando's

Chicken Kebab from Nando's at Tampines Mall, to mark the start of booking the hotel and trains for Paris! Lousy wifii at starbucks meant I had to then relocate down to the Big Splash's whilst waiting for the bro (and being late the next am....) and booked the rouen one which we didnt use in the end. Thanks to Pek and XX in emailing 15 hotels to get only Les Globelins which was a real awesome find!

The Coastal Settlement

Wagyu beef cubes with yummy mushrooms

My stack highish reuben

Carols chicken curry

Early rainy evening, I kinda enjoyed getting lost trying to track down this off the beaten path (maybe not so anymore!) of a gem - The Coastal Settlement (Nethavan Road), really near Changi Village. Been on the top of my to do list before I leave Changi, this is a really cute vintage find, all nestled amidst the trees and chalets. I parked at another carpark down the road (the one right outside the place was completely full, on a mid weekday night), and we kinda enjoyed walking along the rained out roads. Pity for the wet seats though, the al fresco area exuded the chillout vibe albeit in the woods. We settled down inside to tuck into some delish Wagyu beef cubes, and my uber duber high Reuben (i miss the Brewerkz one loadssss!!) and Carol into her chicken curry (she concurs its strange paying $15 to eat that dish here). Many vintage collections, including cars at the garage and Vespas in situ, quite a quirky collection much to explore. It was an almost for the paris gang here (they have wifii!!) if only peks didnt have such a cmi ho to vet m's just the night before.

Marukin Ramen

Picked up Chongs and short from sg together before heading down to town...sorry for budgeoning the plans for restaurant week!! Chongs wanted to head to watch Man on a Ledge (vs Hunger games..which i eventually caught with J) hence we went to town and settled for Marukin Ramen (Scotts Square). It was that vs. Delicious - which was the most crowded that I've ever seen it!

Everything here was accessible to me - and there were variations of the soup from Miso to Shoyu etc. 3 of us chose different bases of which mine was the most mild...

Teriyaki Chicken, Rice which was most plain after slurping down the soaked noodles....

Headed to watch the show and thereafter to Blujazz to catch some younguns..day after we realised when we were at TJ beach we should have done the massage instead!! Aging....

Pho Hoa

Almost meeting near Cityhall (only got that text in the car at sg) resulted in a meet up at Pho Hoa (Holland Village), a franchise I've been wanting to try since I saw the originals in Vietnam. Still the best is Orange Lantern, which I must go back to try again.. and he flies again off I wish I can have that jet setting lifestyle as work too...

Roadhouse

Somehow the boys love Roadhouse (Dempsey) loads. Half price Plain Jane brought J and I here, before Hugo. The all day's Eggs Ben is still my default order, love it. Roadhouse is probably the androgynous Cafe Hacienda that xy's dont mind hanging out at...

Cocotte

Having the Roast Chicken at Cocotte (Wanderlust Hotel) meant missing the WD (that boss had to do on his own!), the Russian extravaganza, and Timbre Rocks and Roots with on-leave Chongs.

But I wont miss my girls for the world.

Only they can watch me tear apart the bird and not be disgusted.

Feast and yet keep an ear for the achingly sweet tomboy of a singer.

And will not laugh (too hard) about forgetting to tip the valet with no manners.

Thanks for all these years, girls! To more meals, music, laughter.

By the way, the bird was good. Tender and worth getting messy for ;) And! I have a new found love for unbitterised Brussel Sprouts (the way Cocotte does it)

Crystal Jade Korean

When we checked out the March Kino sale, and Qian got really into the mood for some hearty soup so we ended up at Crystal Jade Korean (Takashimaya). Havent really gotten started onto the Intelligent Investor just as yet..

Multiple refills esp for her spinach...I just enjoyed the giant beansprouts
The Kimichi soup is so much better than the kk/sg one...very flavourful!
Seafood pancake - had more crispier and thinner ones before..

I really wanna try Auntie Kim's (the one at Thomson) soon!

Tasting room

The eggs Ben that Kels was raring to try

Pancakes

Truffle fries- another reason to pay a visit!

Met Kels for brunch after Sunday rounds ended surprinsingly early - even had time to send the cello for a check before meeting up with her. Horrors the night before ($18 bucks parking at Millenia Walk after the IT fair surcharge) so was a bit skeptical when the Marina Square parking was full as well, but managed a lot. And did not get fleeced. Kels booked a place at The Tasting Room (Marina Square) but honestly...we kinda booked the whole place as well (if you get it)

This was a place we wanted to try some time ago already, and almost did until we decided to Skyve instead cos Cheang was on call. So we finally got down to trying this place. Food wise it was good but unmemorable...its been an overdose of eggs ben and truffle fries of late (but im not complaining) so after a while when you eat it ever so often it becomes like one of your staples...my going out staples...its probably my comfort food, just like how pancakes and waffles (and of cos, Kaya toast) are Kel's comforts..gosh when was the last time we staked out kaya toast joints?? best friend can we do a food escapade soon....

Book Cafe

Good Friday AM booked the flight, sent the folks to China (sigh.....too bad couldnt chap in last minute to their tour), Book Cafe to discuss Paris and finding it unbelievable us three will be doing it in a different land drinking coffeeeeee in just a week's time!! The Mueseli that looked like dog food in supermarkets actually tasted damn good with the milk and the yoghurt. Lazing the afternoon away under the cloudy skies, getting up only to top up coupons...awesome possum. The luxury of time. And leave! All the caffeine from the cappucino and latte did some good in realising the routine route = 14 zomg!

Tanjong Beach Club

The power of being on leave (not me, Chongs)...Fri night at Scotts Square ramening, catching Man on a Ledge, fries at Blujazz, and still having energy to suntan at Tanjong Beach Club..

Partially deconstructed Eggs Benedict with a hashbrown instead of a muffin...love all the variations of eggs ben, cant wait to check out Late Plate's version.

We loved the yoghurt parfait loads...very refreshing..
Never thought I'll be part of the meat parade by the pool but..yeah... we were...before migrating to the sun deck chairs by the beach to snooze...

Eventually came back a week later after Southern Ridges and had the Mixed Berries Bowl..loved the stone cold stone bowl... I wish I could call this place home, really ;)

Akashi, Starbucks Rochester

Codfish set

Chiraishi set

Lunch at Akashi Paragon is worth the savings instead of dinner cos for exactly the same set at different times of the day its cheaper..plus there was zero crowd. Prob the default jap choice for town food now for mummy and me... Today's more of a pre recee trip prior to my jan ny trip to prep up for woodsbury

Choc lava

Apple Crumble cheesecake

At Starbucks Rochester with J fiddling with the white light settings so that my cheesecake doesnt appear more yellow then it actually is...

Alfresco balcony settings is quite the chill out here at Rochester starbucks, in a colonial bungalow. Loving it.

The Knolls, Capella

Love the variety in the bread basket

Love the froth in the seafood soup!

Seabass pasta...the tiny bits of pasta was really delicious in the tomato based sauce though im not usually a fan of the latter...

Creme brulee...and a very thin layer at that (such that the caramelised layer felt as thick as the creme layer)

Enjoying the art at Capella..

Hugx

Its just too dark everywhere in capella...

But drive in through the dark for this gem;) restaurant week 11

Skyve

My mantra in PAS...

Eggs Benedict, Truffled scrambled eggs, Ricotta Cheese pancakes, Rosti..

Post call me fetched on call Cheang out = 2 sleepys, 1 post wedding...heh. 3 girls = getting disorientated trying to find this place.. plus a super power woman who shifted away.. Was such a lazy brunch (till cheang had a new case). Super healthy tasting food - Cheang was craving the ricotta cheese pancakes (which was super thin but had this crisp nutty nougat that was really delish). The rosti was really crisp too. The eggs were a little too airy fairy. Overall just a very bright sunny spacious place to hang out, see and be seen. Misst the old District 10 ;) and its very yummy truffle mushroom pizza...soon to try!

Rio Tapas Bar

Post call day, but still ended up oversleeping and had to ask Kels to leave my Wicked ticket by the counter...sorry dear!! Wicked's cast was as amazing, and surprising as the set. Gorgeous set it was. And it was hilarious too..blondes can be so...yes..self deprecatingly so too...

We bumped into Cheryl and Andrew, and even Jianping and his gf..how coincidental!!

We shopped abit - shops close at 1145 pm on weekends at MBS..and eventually walked downt all the waterfront bars - either too noisy or the bar food sucks so we ended up right at the other quiet end at Rio Tapas Bar .. last order at 12 and we were there at 1130 so we decided to settle down at that quiet place (the other couple moved after a while so we kinda owned the place and our little booth!!)
Green tea alcoholic milkshake (tasted no matcha!!) and yumms truffle fries...

Scallops (which Kels already OD on over cny)..I kinda misst the scallops from Sabio

More truffle in the Oxtail Soba...this is = to my dads oxtail soup, just need to coerce him to buying that $45 bottle of truffle oil from La Forketta...

Really crisp churros with dips - loved the chocolate one.. its really ang moh youtiao, but very airy very crisp!

Walked one round to Fullerton before heading back to leem kopi but decided to head out to Starbucks City hall which reminded Kels of the allgreen allnighter we had at Bugis. What would I do without my best friend!! I would definitely be a hungrier person...hehe...

St Jerome's Laneway festival

Sunday was crowds madness..the entry queue never seem to end (all the way to the ballet academy!!) so sent J to get the xkcd comic i bought heh. And once we got in (and they never checked our bag for food nor the 3litre water bag that is our survival...)..Moved thrice.. all to avoid the sun and the standing crowd (can everyone please sit down so we can sit down and actually see something!!).. central grass patch to secret corner under the trees to eventually in front of the prive booth, on the steps..

Okay enough complaints about the people. or the weather. Armoured with raybans, brollie (the impossibly big one J was holding...), and of cos the 3litre water bag (the beer queue was just insane)...we were well prepared. Plus seats in front of the food booth...and behind the (insanely crowded) drinks booth...what more can we ask for?

but great music, of cos.

Mixture of the good and the bad, with a booming surprisingly good sound system. We liked Girls (who started with an emotional rendition of And I will always love you.. and they are not girls!!) Laura Marling (folksy), Feist (++..great performer) and M 83. Too bad we missed Cults..came in just in time for Yuck. Though Chairlift was reviewed to be disappointing in Life, I liked Bruises lots...heard it from such a long time ago. Horror's Still Life had a really awesome sound on youtube, but as one of the three closing acts, was overshadowed by Feist and M83.

Did I say we sat right in front of Prive's booth?? the smallish unfilling Turkey/cheese wrap and Sundried tomatoes spinach salad.

Walked all the way to the exit end to check out the other food stall which turned out to be a repeat Shiraz stall that was next to Prive...

We had BBQ chips x 4 portions (bloody hell, $2.50 each, and tasted like NTUC chilli chips...)

Though Shiraz's chicken kebab sandwich was quite filling...and almost had seconds cos they didnt keep the coupons...messy messy (even the sandwich itself was messy...)

Nightfall came, and the laser show from MBS as the back drop and the moon too..gorgeous...

Isnt the double stage an ingenious idea?

Watching M83 was like watching trance being produced live...AMAZING closing act..

And thank goodness for single yellow lines...hehe..makes exit easy!

2am dessert bar

Basil White Chocolate with sea grapes (the cute greenish weed like stringy thing), coconut mousse, Passionfruit. Think I enjoyed the coconut mousse most!

Chocolate mousse, Evian water, Raspberry sorbet. Core of caramel was quite a surprise! ;)

Man U vs Liverpool meant missing out on the massage/ramen/walas and I ended up at cel and fly's 4th stop at 2am dessert bar (Holland Village). Cel's intense tiramisu craving gave in to chocolate mousse instead, gladly so. And her new found grey c ipad cover...gorgeous indeed. Chose bar seats over sofa seats (perils of skirts), white and dark chocolate. Misst you, M. Should pass you your Coach soon!