Mezza9 Revisit : Popeye would love it here!

Popeye would be delighted to come here because the creamed spinach is SO GOOD. 

We decided to go "healthy" by ordering the Creamed Spinach ($9), only to realize upon serving that the portion was extremely huge (equivalent to nearly two bowls of rice). However, we had no problem finishing it with the in-house bread because it was so delish, as if we were having cream-based pasta without the carbs. The greens were cooked to the perfect softness, not too mushy, mixed with cream of just the right amount and consistency.

The Nicoise Tuna Salad ($22) is many times more expensive than an average salad but the premium ingredients used justify the cost. The seared tuna was dabbled in some mild spices that were neutralized with the tart lemon vinaigrette and savoury olives. 

The cakes from the pastry boutique surprised us because it was much more affordable than the average price of the cakes outside. My friend enjoyed the New York Cheesecake, which was gratifyingly dense like an authentic version. I prefer the Mango Tart ($6) and the Passionfruit Eclair ($6), which are both refreshingly light and savvy sweets that chased away any working blues.

And the Salted Caramel ($6) turned out to be quite unexpectedly wonderful. The subtle burnt caramel notes were brought out by the salt and best of all, a delightfully crunchy layer that made this seemed like a deluxe caramel flavoured Kit Kat Bar

Read about previous visits to Mezza 9 here, here and here  

Mezza9 @ Grand Hyatt Singapore

Lunch: 12pm-3pm, daily
Dinner: 6pm-11pm, daily
Sunday Brunch: 11:30am-3pm, last pour at 2:45 pm

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Crown Bakery & Cafe: Every Crumb, Every Sip, Soul Good

 [Hainanese Chicken bread and Kaori Ciabatta]

Next time when you are craving for a plate of chicken rice, why not head to Crown Bakery to try its signature Hainanese Chicken Bread? Made with chicken soup, skinless chicken thigh, garlic, ginger, shallots and lemongrass and French mill wheat flour, this loaf is truly a brilliant rendition of our local dish especially when you dip some into the garlicky chilli sauce.

Devoting its heart and soul into sourdough and natural leaven bread without any artificial preservatives, coloring or additives, Crown Bakery is committed to crafting artisanal loaves that caters to customers who are treated as royalty at its French-inspired retail shop. 

[Elegant Earl Grey Brioche, Mellow Matcha Brioche and Sweet Macaron Croissant but the New Zealand Cheese Danish was the apple of my eye]

 

One of my favourites is the Kaori Ciabatta ($4), a masterful hybrid of European and Japanese bread with its light, crusty facet yet highly stretchable mochi-like interior. Created by Niigata-born Master Baker Katsugei Shiga, owner-chef of Signifiant Signifie in Tokyo with more than 40 years of baking experience, the Kaori Ciabatta counts as one of the "Japanese" breads including Soy Kinako Loaf ($4.80 for full/$2.70 for half), Shizuoka Matcha Brioche ($3.20), Earl Grey Cashew Brioche ($3). You can spot ingredients on the label tag such as Hokkaido Kitanokaori flour, Japan wheat flour and Shizuoka matcha powder.

That said, it is unfair to label them as "Japanese" bread because every creation here is a cross-infusion of the best ingredients sourced from the world. For instance, the Knights of the Round Table ($15) is a gorgeous bake of French butter and Japanese flour, ornamented with roasted walnuts, 50% cocoa dark chocolate and Crown's handcrafted raisin yeast. Even their Sourdough Buttermilk Waffle ($6 for maple and butter/$9 with ice cream and fruits) is another hybrid that leverages on German Sourdough, producing a wonderfully crisp yet tender treat that tickled my fancy. 

Another selling point is their Ekmeks, a Turkish sourdough bread made with cold-pressed extra virgin oil, natural leaven, French mill wheat flour. While there is Earl Grey, Honey and Red Wine Fig versions, I was drawn to Black Ekmek ($4.50),  which concealed a fluffy subtly sweet interior beneath the nutty yet brittle crust. 

On their dine-in menu are hot mains such Egg Bens($18) and the Crown Platter($29) a scrumptious Royal platter of red wine-braised oxtail, Canadian back bacon, chicken sausage, sautéed mushrooms and baked tomatoes. Everything was done in a prim and proper way, but what stole the limelight was the Crown Puff Pastry that surrounds a sunny side up egg. It was the BEST puff pastry I've ever had in Singapore; a buttery, flaky crisp golden jewel that leaves you craving for more.

The Earl Grey Tea Bread Pudding ($12) is a classic hot British pud made of Earl-grey poached pears whose fragrance is truly enlivening. Perfect if there was a pour of chilled creme anglaise. 

Good to know that there is no service charge for dine-in but customers would not be short-changed as I noticed how the staff would heat up any bread orders and slice them into smaller portions before serving. With more goodies to be introduced when they are officially opened, there are plenty of reasons to be back for more.

Crown Bakery & Cafe

557 Bukit Timah Road Crown Center, #01-03 

Sun-Thurs 7.30am-9.30pm

Fri/Sat 7.30am-10.30pm

(Dine-in menu from 9.30am onwards)

Tel: 6463-3066

www.crownbakery.com.sg

Facebook crownbakerysg

Instagram @crownbakery

#crownbakerysg #crownbakerycafe 

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NY Gramercy: Depato (department store) Cakes, Anyone?

NY Gramercy does not refer to the famous street in NY but a Japanese-company-run cake shop that is located at some selected department stores like Takashimaya. I seldom patronize these kind of shops with many outlets as the quality is usually average. However, after giving this shop a try, I was impressed by the pillowy and moist texture of the sponge components and that was kept amazingly consistent across all the cakes.

 

Kept within the price range is between ¥500-¥700, these sweets won't really burn a hole too much as they are generally larger than the independent patisseries and not too heavy on mousse--appealing to those who prefer the traditional light Japanese cakes. 

Koicha (Matcha Cream, Black Beans, Matcha Sponge) 

Another of the memorable matcha cakes that is available without having to travel far to certain shops. My favourite item here as there is an almost full-bodied matcha taste that complemented the rest of the components. 

New York Brownie

This is unlike those dense fudged version but two cakey chocolate sponge studded with rum raisins. The concept is simple but to transform a rustic homemade treat into such elegant form is not definitely not in everyone's ability.

Anyone who walk passes the cake display would simply stop and stare in admiration. 

Melon Shower

The chef is simply too ambitious to shower the cake with so many chunks of honeydew and pineapple that cause that they fell apart before I could take this picture. Looked rather dishevelled but one can forgive the chef because the fruits are so sweet and fresh. It's a fruit + cake gateau and not a fruit cake (if you can understand the difference) so what consumers are paying is the fruits. 

The Mango Pudding is different from mango puddings elsewhere as the sweetness stemmed mostly from the tropical fruit itself and not artificial sugar. Even my picky mum who is a huge mango pudding fan herself enjoyed this tremendously.

 

Other seasonal creations include the Sakura Sponge (see top pic) and Okinawan Sweet Potato.

NY GRAMERCY グラマシーニューヨーク

Takashimaya Shinjuku, Nihonbashi

Daily 10am-8pm (except Fri/Sat until 8.30pm)

Tokyu Food Show Tokyu Department Store Shibuya

Daily 10am-9pm

Other outlets include Takashimaya Yokohama, Seibu Ikebukuro

http://www.gramercy-newyork.com/

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Ootsuka おおつか : Hidden Wagyu Rated No.1 Tripadvisor Japan

 

Thanks to my good friend Pearlyn’s recommendation, I could indulge in the premium Wagyu beef without breaking my wallet. Ootsuka is a very exclusively hidden place situated in the quiet residential estates about 20-25minutes walk away from Kyofuku Line Arashiyama Station.

If you are not familiar with the place, you might easily walk past the restaurant thinking that it is just another private house. One feels very relaxed dining at Ootsuka because it doesn’t remind you that you are eating at a restaurant until the moment you pay at the cashier. Even the toilet is so nicely decorated! (Yes, do check out their toilets too haha)

Ootsuka is not listed on most guidebooks, which would name several tofu restaurants instead when it comes to gourmet in Arashiyama. That said, Ootsuka was rated the No.1 popular restaurant on tripadvisor japan. With just three family tables and 5 counter table seats, this place can become crowded during peak hours and thus it is best to place a reservation to avoid disappointment.  Lunch sets start from a super reasonable price of 1000 yen and would not exceed 5800 yen for the most expensive dish--  150g of Murasawa A5 Wagyu Steak that comes in a set with rice, soup and salad.

From the teishoku section, my favourite was the Roast Beef Rice Bowl (1500 yen) that boasted an alluring pink as the meat is only treated with a light sear and retained a soft chewiness. Some people might find this a bit raw but it was not too lean. See top pic for close up shot of this bowl of deliciousness!

The Beef Tendon (1000 yen) looked quite dry at first but I was surprised by that the meat was interspersed with fats that disintegrated in my mouth without any chewing. This is quite good for people who are not huge fans of beef because there are other ingredients such as eggs and tofu.

For a more satisfying meat experience, go for the Roast Beef or this Japanese short plate beef set (1500 yen) where the rice grains soaked up some of the mildly sweet sauce and natural oil/juices that seeped from the beef atop.

All the steaks are served on sizzling hot plates in two sizes; 100g and 150g. Just get the 150g because they are so good you’ll be crying for more if there was only 100g.

Besides the prime Japanese Beef that is used for most dishes, the chef-owner also uses A4 grade Kuroge (Black Hair) Wagyu and Murasawa Wagyu. The Murasawa might not be as popular as Kobe or Matsuzaka Beef but the marbling of fats and lean meat met my ideal proportion. They are soft, tender but not too greasy as if you were swallowing a whole cube of butter.  

In fact, the chuck flap steak is already a decently good cut at 3000 yen for 150g or 2200 yen for 100g. Those who don’t wish to invest too much money can opt for this without getting short-changed for the quality. I can’t tell which cut is which now from the pictures I took but it doesn’t really matter because everything is good.

Ootsuka おおつか

京都府京都市右京区嵯峨天龍寺瀬戸川町20-10

20-10 Sagatenryūji Setogawachō, Ukyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 616-8376, Japan

Lunch 11am-3pm

Tel: 075-864-7989 (Reservations are HIGHLY recommended)

English Menu is Available

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Yap Kee Wanton Mee @ Holland Drive : Light Crunchy Angel Hair Noodles

"Fine blonde Angel-hair noodles with a gentle spring and crunch". 

I could not forget these words as I read Tony's (@ johorkaki) about this wanton mee stall at Holland Drive. I actually had a wanton meeting with my friend Kerri who is a lover of wanton mee but it had been postponed for too long because of the busy schedules. Alas, we made our trip here, under the mercy of  35 degrees weather. 
 
Everything was true to what Tony had described. The noodles might not be exactly like the typical angel hair (my favourite kind of pasta) but they came close to it. Though we ordered Xiao la (smallest degree of spiciness), the chilli was potently spicy with a satisfying kick. It was so good that I decided to ask more chilli. 

Precisely because each strand is so fine, they are evenly coated with the sauce base that is a blend of soy sauce and vegetable oil.  The char siew were not memorable but the dumplings were smooth and juicy. I doubt I missed the fried lard as I did not realize that it should be there until I read Tony's post again.

The owners were very friendly and I told them how I learnt about this shop. Good to know that his brother is the legendary flying wanton Mee man of Johor Bahru. 

 

"My name is Handsome. Not Richard" he introduced himself.
"......."
"Just joking" he quipped.
Uncle Richard sure had his sense of humor :)

 

Yap Kee Wanton Mee

Holland Drive Food Centre

44 Holland Drive, #02-04, Singapore 270044
6:30am to 2:00pm daily

Nearest MRT Station: Buona Vista

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eXCafe Arashiyama イクスカフェ : Your MUST-GO Cafe

eXcafe might sound like a hipster cafe but it is exactly the opposite.  

Housed in a old Japanese mansion with a beautiful 140-ha Zen garden, ExCafe is an exclusive Japanese Wa cafe located away from the main commercial streets of Arashiyama. There is undoubtedly some gentrification going on here but the food is backed by solid cooking. 

茶そばのカルボナーラ

The Tea Soba Carbonara (¥1060)is the BEST Carbonara pasta I've ever had in my life. I don't really care whether cream was used as long as it tasted good.

This was the perfect plate of pasta that I have longed search for; the salt, the earthy matcha soba, the cheese, the premium rich egg from "Tamagoya" of Saga Kyoto (「京都嵯峨 たまごや」の「特別濃厚卵」. The aromatic sauce is rich, flavourful and in the golden consistency that coated every strand of noodle. 

Just as I thought I am in heaven, the trio of condiments, namely shibazuke, salted konbu and cheese powder, plunged me back into reality, into the fact that I am now right in Arashiyama. The dish doesn't require extra seasoning but if you like to play along with the novelty, why not?

京黒ロール くろまる 

Most locals come here for the Kuromaru Roll, a dark mysterious black roll that has been featured in local magazines and TV. At ¥600 for 2 pieces, it might be more logical to buy their whole roll at ¥1200. Golden plate that looks like an art, you'll get your money from the aesthetics alone. That said, the roll meets more than just the eye for presentation. The sponge is softer than a rabbit's fur and the cream, as pure as it looks and merely tainted with a dash of sugar.

京黒ロール くろまる抹茶 

There are two other versions, matcha (¥790) and Harimaen's organic matcha (¥890). Since I can't tell the difference between normal and organic stuff most of the times, the normal matcha flavour was more than enough to keep us happy. It was so TRANSCENDENT that I had to restraint myself from licking the plate. 

In case you are a rusk monster like me, excafe belongs to a company with another brand, Rokkakuan that specializes in Japanese style rusks. Think shichimi-shoyu (seven spices soy sauce), salted kinako, Kuromitsu and of course, Uji matcha. There is a shop along the trek upwards to Kiyimizudera.

 
天龍寺パフェ

We complete the zen retreat with a Tenryuji Parfait (¥900), which exuded an orientalistic charm like a young geisha walking with an umbrella in summer. Named after the nearby world heritage site Tenryuji, this parfait contained warabi mochi, Yatsuhashi (Kyoto's cinnamon Mochi), organic Houjicha and matcha ice cream.

 

This was normal, albeit slightly too icy and sweet. All food can be topped up with an additional sum of ¥300--¥400 for a drink. I had a hot brew of freshly whisked matcha, sipping and pondering over the meaning of life as I gazed at the beautiful gardens. 

 

Shhhh....don't hush a word. Let there be silence.

 

ExCafeイクスカフェ 嵐山本店

35-3 Sagatenryuji Tsukurimichicho

Ukyo Ward, Kyoto 616-8384

Tel：075-882-6366

Daily 10am-6pm

http://www.inden-style.jp/

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Tiong Bahru Bakery : NEW Classic French Desserts

Some people may think that food in Japan tends to be better in Singapore. True most of the time but there are plenty of exceptions too. Having been to Gontran Cherrier's boulangerie in both Singapore and Tokyo, I must say that Singaporeans are luckier because the selection of the tarts and cakes are far more extensive in Singapore at Tiong Bahru Bakery (at least twice the number).

Recently, it has introduced 8 new French pastries to the existing selection which are authentic and truly traditional classics. From fruit tarts to eclairs, these are the fundamental items that a pastry student would learn at any French culinary school. And my first bite at the Paris Brest (my all-time favourite) tells me that the rest of the pastries are going to be a solid display of the finesse.

The addition of crisp craqueline pumped up the original choux pastry in the Paris Brest but this is not something to be taken for granted because many outside still fail to pay attention to this aspect. The praline cream, folded in with nuts, is rich yet not too greasy like a full-fledged buttercream. The layered coffee-chocolate Opera Cake ($8.50) or the chocolate eclair ($6.50) are also fine role models that every opera or eclair should aspire to be. The acidity of the lemon curd for the Lemon Meringue Eclair ($7) could be sharper but this is just perhaps my personal preference towards a brighter tang.

The Tropical Cheese Cake ($8), a combination of cheesecake mousse, mango-pineapple confit and an almond cake base soaked in calamari syrup, appeared rather too safe and predictable, though the textures are pleasant.
Likewise, a little dash of salt in the intensely bitter and rich chocolate ganache would send the Chocolate Slippers ($7.50) to a whole new dimension. But don't get me wrong as I truly adore the simple yet glorious cacao tones that united beautifully with the crisp pate sable. I would love to wear this chocolate slippers every day without getting bored. 

The Mixed Berries Tart ($8.50) is flawless, tastefully presented with a tart raspberry frangipane below the vanilla pastry cream.  

 

What I wish to have more is the Vanilla Millefeuille ($7.50), as the pastry layers were light, crisp and flaky (in fact, better than the chocolate millefeuille in its Tokyo outlet). And nothing gets better when it is matched with a formidable vanilla cream. Nope, this is not any over-the-top indulgence. It is paying tribute to the classic Parisian sweets, by simply eating it :)

Tiong Bahru Bakery

Raffles City Outlet:

252 North Bridge Road, #B1-11/12 Raffles City Shopping Centre, Raffles City, 179103

Mon-Sun 8am to 10pm

For more details, visit http://www.tiongbahrubakery.com/

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Oriole Coffee + Bar : NEW Brand NEW Menu

Oriole Coffee + Bar has undergone a rebranding back in October 2014. Everything from the cafe's interior to the coffee and food menu has been given a makeover to deliver a more wholesome dining experience.

You won't believe how yummy this plate of black rice is. Tossed with smoky lap Cheong (Chinese sausages) and shredded chili, the Fried Wild Rice ($11) tasted just like the crispy burnt rice that we scraped off desperately at the last from claypot rice.

Fried Wild Rice 4.8/5
But now we don't have to save the best thing for the last and can dive in straight into this aromatic flavorful bowl of crunchy gains that are quarantined from any unpleasant bitterness. Best of all, they bind together nicely with a shy ingredient that chose to hide its glamour beneath the pile of rice —Onsen Egg.

Taisho White 4/5 and Taisho M.A.D. Milk 4/5
An example of an innovative creation is Oriole's new signature cold brew, Taisho Coffee, whose flavors are extracted by steeping ground coffee in ice cold water for hours. It is available in black ($6) or white ($7).

 

I am no coffee expert so I tried the Taisho M.A.D. Milk ($8), which is literally coffee blended with cold pressed milk made from Macademia. Almond. Dates. In fact, Oriole Coffee + Bar is the pioneer of the coffee and nut milk hybrid in Singapore! The subtle acidity of the coffee was neutralized by the milk, which made this a pleasant drink to enjoy anytime of the day.

 

M.A.D. Milk 4.2/5
But I still prefer sipping a cup of soothing cup of pure M.A.D milk ($10) as it was the warm temperature, which brought out the full-bodied nuttiness of the milk.

 

Lamb Cutlet 3.8/5
Besides the appetizing fried rice earlier, the Small Plates section also includes other moreish delights such as the Mantou Sloppy Dog and Lamb Cutlet ($22), a trio of grilled lamb ribs garnished with roasted cumin puffs (think Indian papadum crackers), pickled apricots and mint leaf. The chemistry between the lamb, cumin and mints made this a very Indie dish that would be an instant hit if the intensity of the mint is heightened. It is quite pricey but the texture of the lamb was spot on chewy with rosy pink interior.

 

Capellini Crabmeat 4/5 
Much has been raved about the Garlic Prawn Risotto but we decided to try something different, Capellini Crabmeat ($26). This is a full-fledged meal that goes generous on fresh crabmeat and piquillo pepper. I thought the choice of using Capellini was quite clever because I get more flavours per strand without compromising the chewiness, given that this pasta falls in between angel hair and spaghetti.

Reuben Served with Paprika Fries and Salad 4.2/5
Coffee-cured salt beef, anyone? Yes, this man-sized Reuben ($17) gives diners piled layers of home-made coffee-cured salt beef, sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese and mustard mayo between delightfully crispy grilled rye bread. I couldn't distinguish the java notes in the beef but it doesn't really matter as the superb balanced of flavors (especially between the tangy sauerkraut and salty beef) left me deeply enamored. Oh boy, I never dare to look at these Western sandwiches the same way again.

Waffles Miso 4.5/5
While Oriole may not be a waffle specialty shop, one would definitely live in regrets without trying their "Waffles Miso" ($12), at least I know for sure I will. Stacked precariously atop one another without any overkill of toppings, the golden waffles boasts spongy interior with delicately crisp yet chewy edges that you would love to sink your teeth into right upon serving. Oriole breathes new life into this dish not only by sneaking in a small dosage of buttery milk streusel, but also blending miso into caramel, adding a funky umami touch to the sickly sweetness.

White Chocolate Yuzu Cheesecake 3/5 
White chocolate has unabashedly stolen the show here, obscuring the citrusy compounds of the Yuzu beneath the rich cheesecake ($8). Together with the frantically melting ice cream and raspberry sauce, this plate has reached the zenith of sweetness and may need to find a balance so that the prized Yuzu fruit need not just be carrying an exotic title on the menu.

Chocolate and Coconut Affogato 4/5
And one last dessert to end the night? The classic Chocolate and Coconut Affogato ($9) that once again reminds me that we are in a place where coffee calls the shot. The rich espresso coffee adds a satisfying bitter kick to the sweet ice cream even though it was shunned of any coconut flavors. And what make this a kind of super-sophisticated sundae was the cocoa crumbles that contributed another wildly pleasurable form of bitterness.

Out of this sleek chill-out space in Orchard emerges mostly comfort food, unobtrusively finessed and hearty in portions. Better still: a lunch promotion at $19++ that allows you to have any of the Oriole Classics with salad and iced tea. There is also an all-day breakfast menu that ends till 6pm and even takeaway counter where early risers in the Somerset area can grab some baked goodies and coffee. Yes, there is so much more to Oriole Coffee + Bar than initially meets the eye.

This article first appeared on SG Food on Foot, an excellent and comprehensive food blog that showcases Singapore's best food near MRT stations. 

Oriole Coffee + BarPan Pacific Services Suites
96 Somerset Road
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrioleCoffee
Website: http://www.oriole.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Dine-In
Sun to Thu & PH: 10am – 11pm
Fri to Sat & Eve of PH: 10am – 12am
Grab & Go
Daily; 8am - 5pm

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