Republic Bar – Christmas Drinks Now Available!

It’s that time of year again… & Republic Bar has a Festive Cocktails menu with 5 options (at $26++ a pop) to get your Christmas spirit on. Available daily ’til 31st December 2022, from 5:30pm onwards.

I couldn’t pass up Eggnog (pictured in the tall glass, next to the Negroni), as it is one of my favourite things about Christmas – especially the alcoholic variant. Creamy, sweet drinks deviate vastly from my typical go-to flavour profile for cocktails… But this is probably the only exception.

Expectedly, this is dangerously easy to drink. Quite reminiscent of when I’d put Bailey’s in my milk & cereal, & sit at the back of the LT to inconspicuously slurp it up during class. But this drink is better, in part because it isn’t as sweet as the “cereal milk” left behind post-meal.

The lightness in the whipped texture of cream & egg provides a comforting mouthfeel in every sip. & as you swallow, you get the warm contrasting depth of the dark spirits – Barcadi 8 & Michter’s Bourbon. Of course, there is that touch of nutmeg for a homely Christmas feel… The warm hug that envelopes everything so nicely together.

I enjoyed this from start to finish, but am cognizant that I might be a little bit biased, festival-wise. Try it for yourself & pass your own judgement 😉

Hot Buttered Rum ($26++) was recommended by one of the friendly waitresses. I originally thought I’d stop at 1 Christmas drink, having had a few from the regular menu already… But this sounded too good to pass up.

I was pleasantly surprised.. I loved this even more than Eggnog! Super baffled – because I eat my kaya toast without butter (don’t judge), yet I’d happily drink a litre of this warm, comforting buttery rum…? What sorcery is this!?

Perhaps it was the simplicity of this drink that won me over: Bacardi 8, butter, festive spices. & as I’d mentioned above, it’s served warm. So past the creamy top that gives you a comical moustache, you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside that feels almost self-healing. Mana regen ftw.

Other drinks on Republic Bar’s Festive Cocktails menu:

𝑴𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆 ($26++)
Remy Martin VSOP, Shiraz, Citrus, Festive Spices

𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒂 ($26++)
Telmont Champagne, Cointreau, Cranberry Juice

𝑷𝒊𝒎𝒎’𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒖𝒑 ($26++)
Pimm’s No. 1, Lager, Ginger

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Indoor seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations – I used SevenRooms
💦 Water is not chargeable; neither are the dish of nuts served as nibbles
📍 Inside the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia

Cupfy Oolong Bubble Tea – Taro Pearls Only?

Unfortunately, here’s another non-aesthetic photo… Even more so because the cup is opaque & you can’t see through it 😂 But hear me out!

I ordered Cupfy’s Golden Oolong Tea with Lime ($5.90 nett) with less ice (doesn’t cost additional) & added Taro Balls (+$1 nett). Had my usual 0% sugar level – which made the lime taste even more distinctly sour. I didn’t mind that (I love sour drinks), but as a result I couldn’t really taste anything Oolongy, which apparently is their specialty.

Maybe this wasn’t the best combination to order. Coupled with the fact that the only option for pearls is taro balls (no regular tapioca/konjac/etc pearls)… That was an odd pairing. But it’s my habit to never drink bubble tea without pearls!

Just wanna put a couple of factual things out there as well, in hopes that this info will help someone:

🔹 This is NOT an actual store with a storefront; it’s prepared within Grab Kitchen Aljunied (@ Victory Centre, #02-08)
🔹 Order from them on GrabFood – delivery & self-collection options possible
🔹 At the time of writing, I made use of a 15% off self pick-up coupon on the Grab app
🔹 If you’re self-collecting & driving, Victory Centre’s carpark has a 10-mins grace period, which is sufficient time if there’s no queue…

Gravitea La-teh – Disappointing Bubble Tea

Gravitea’s Oolong Cheese Tea ($4.50 nett) with Pearls (+$0.50 nett) left much to be desired, though. Tea was disappointingly diluted, albeit I was comforted by the chewy, nicely done pearls.

I finished the pearls, but couldn’t bring myself to do the same for the tea.

Also took a while to be prepared – which I can overlook if this was a good cup, but it unfortunately wasn’t.

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only

YWCA Cafe Lodge’s Limited Time Pop-up with Chef Ratha – Scrumptious French-inspired 3-course Meal

In the first of YWCA Cafe Lodge’s guest chef series, Chef Ratha (formerly from The Black Sheep Café in Sin Ming) serves up a delightful 3-course meal ($48++ per pax) of his classic French-inspired food.

Cost, casual interior of YWCA Cafe Lodge

Being able to have quality French-inspired food in a comfortable, non-pretentious environment is the selling point for me. Service was attentive & friendly as well, & I had a great time.

This pop-up is for a limited time only – until 15 May 2022, & only available on Saturdays for dinner & Sundays for lunch. So call to make a reservation & head down while you can!

I cautiously took a first sip of the complimentary San Sirra Mocktail, as I tend to favour cocktails/alcoholic beverages over non-alcoholic ones that tend to overcompensate with saccharine sweetness. This might be the first mocktail that I willingly finish & dare I say, even craved for more.

Complimentary mocktail: Non-alcoholic Merlot

I loved how this non-alcoholic merlot (U.P. $8++ per glass) didn’t have any of that artificial syrupy flavour at all. & packed with sliced fruits, this reminded me somewhat of a sangria – pleasant & fun to drink.

We started off our night with appetizers:
🔸 Baked Brie in Pistachio Crust, Pomelo Citrus Salad
🔸 French Onion Soup with Cheese Crouton

When asked to choose from the polarizing duo of soup vs. salad, my choice was clear… SOUP ALL THE WAY BABY.

The onion soup was a winner, with the right level of sweetness from the caramelized onions & purity of a good broth. I could drink it on its own, but it was even better topped with oozy cheese & crusty French bread that soaked up the warm & comforting broth. I’d love to have this again.

Having said that, the salad is pretty bomb too. Brie is a palatable cheese – one of my favourites, actually, & the fresh tartness of the fruits go well with the crisp salad leaves. While the presentation could be improved on, I’m glad that I enjoyed this more than I expected.

Baked Brie in Pistachio Crust, Pomelo Citrus Salad

Braised Lamb Shank in Red Wine & Apricots, Mashed Potato & Seasonal Vegetables

To me, the highlight of a 3-course meal is the main course, & I was baffled by my struggle to choose a favourite out of the 3 options.. Because they were all just excellent:

🔸 Wagyu Beef Cheeks in Truffle Scented Red Wine Sauce, Gratin Potato
🔸 Duck Confit on Apple Roesti & Tangy Mango Relish
🔸 Braised Lamb Shank in Red Wine & Apricots, Mashed Potato & Seasonal Vegetables

Execution was on point, as the meats were tender & fall off the bone. The pairing of accompaniments were complementary too. Loved how the duck confit was Actually Delicious & not overly salty as I tend to find with the others I’ve had elsewhere. The lamb shank was good as well, didn’t have the gamey taste or small that most find off-putting.

Wagyu Beef Cheeks in Truffle Scented Red Wine Sauce, Gratin Potato

Ultimately, though, I think my favourite by a narrow margin is the beef cheeks. They were seriously melt-in-your-mouth, & bonus points for the heavenly gratin potato with creamy sauce that came with it.

Flourless Chocolate Cake, Raspberry Coulis, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

We wrapped up our night with a classic pairing of dark chocolate cake & vanilla bean ice cream.. With a slight twist: The cake is flourless. To be honest, when I first ate this from the outside in, I initially found this a little dry on the edges. However, when I got to the center, it was moist & delectable.

The ice cream wasn’t too sweet either (yay), & plus points to the drizzle of raspberry coulis on top that gave it nice acidity & Berry Good Flavour.

Thanks Cheryl for the invite & YWCA Cafe Lodge for the hospitality! 💕

CRUST Day 2022 – about time we had a sustainability fair

Earth Day was last week, but IMHO being responsible to mother earth is an everyday thing. CRUST kindly invited me to #CRUSTday2022 over the weekend at The Refectory.. Exceptionally happy when the causes I’m passionate about overlap in complementary fashion – namely #zerowaste & #supportlocal.

Was honoured to be remembered by Founder & CEO Travin as someone who has supported them from their humble beginnings. I first got to know about the brand in 2020 through their first CRUST Zoom Night during CB 1.0… & the rest is history. Very happy to see a great Singaporean brand flourish locally & even expand overseas.

Their sustainability-centric fair featured a plethora of F&B brands – Crunch Cutlery, Zenko Superfoods, The Wicked Granola, Thee Tea, Hook Coffee, Antidote Juice, Dan’s Bites, Lemuel Chocolate, Wolf & Wald.. Each with booths to explore, learn more & make purchases at. The fair may be over, but you can still buy some of their products on e-commerce platforms like Lazada & Shopee.

Thee Tea capsules – compatible with nespresso machines

My personal favourites were Crunch Cutlery‘s edible cutlery (which I bought for my nieces & nephew) & Zenko Superfoods‘ water lily pops + ancient grain clusters, which Dex & I couldn’t stop snacking on while sipping on beers at the beer flight tasting workshop.

Thank you CRUST for the invite – cheers to your very happy 3rd birthday & to a greater impact on our world! #saveacrust

Supporting Heartland Bubble Tea – Le Yi Bei (乐一杯)

I’m actually quite impressed with Le Yi Bei (乐一杯) Taro Fresh Milk (M: $3.80 nett/ L: $4.80 nett, pictured). The taro taste is pretty robust. Pearls (+$0.50) are on the small side, but have a good chew & bounce to them.

Would buy this again! In fact, I’d like to try their’s actual teas – couldn’t do so today as it’s late in the evening & I do want to sleep tonight 😂

💵 Accepts cash only
💁🏻‍♀️ Membership card available for free (collect stamps!)

Banh Mi Thit Tampines – Quality Banh Mi

Got the Beef Banh Mi ($5.50 nett) from Banh Mi Thit’s takeout outlet at Tampines – whoa, it’s shiok & flavourful. Option to have/omit chilli – I said yes & the chilli padi slices packed a nice oomph to some of the bites.

The baguette is so crispy & easy to chow down on. I hate it when bread is tough & my teeth feel like they’re about to dislodge from my gums. This was anything but that. Very satisfied.

Admittedly, with my big appetite, this alone wasn’t sufficient to fill me up. But dang, I’m glad I made the trip here because it was delicious. Should’ve bought 2x Banh Mis – maybe a pork one too.

Half-finished (oops) Iced Vietnamese Coffee

Added on an Iced Vietnamese Coffee (U.P. $1.80 nett) for only $1 nett because their set meal (1x Banh Mi + 1x Drink) is only $6.50 nett. Ah, my guilty pleasure. Sweet stuff for a Kosong-drinker, but the Taste of Coffee that packs a punch is smth I needed to start my weekend right. ❤️

Banh Mi Thit’s takeaway outlet at Tampines

💵 Cash payment
📱 PayNow also accepted
🪑 No seats; takeaways only
🚫 No GST or service charge

Laut – Supporting Local Food & Cocktails

Had a really enjoyable night with a plethora of delicious food, good variety of cocktails & even better company. I enjoyed listening to the unique stories behind each of these & I’m sure you will too. All part of the experience & good vibes here.

So the food at Laut – how do I summarize it, if that’s even possible. Each dish has a story of its own, inspired by local flavours, staying quite true to that yet managing to be unique/intriguing.

Sometimes, you just need to try a dish to really be wow-ed by it. Describing it doesn’t do it justice (or maybe it’s just me 😂). The Burnt Eggplant Dip ($12+) was that for me. It’s essentially that, with a tomato & onion relish – served with curry spiced papadums.

First of all, props to the papadums for being fresh & crispy, because there’s nothing like a soggy papadum to ruin your day. Secondly, what sorcery is exactly in this dip?? Such distinct yet harmonious flavours: The smokeyness from the char, creaminess of the eggplant, & flavourful spice (not heat!) from the papadums. This was a hot favourite for the original days when customers would order this during CB 1.0 for delivery. &, of course, it still is.

The Bergedil ($15+) is another dish that has a cool story to it. It does remain true to its tasty fried potato nature – with good fragrance & flavour which I believe is in part from the Madras curry oil, balanced with the earthiness from the trumpet mushrooms. But what truly takes the cake is what they call the umami soil. That’s where the story gets pretty cool to me! I’ll leave that to the good folks at Laut to tell it to you. I was quite fascinated as Damian took me through the narrative. 😍

I had a Malay-speaking friend who asked me if Laut was seafood-inspired cuisine, as laut translates to seafood in Malay. The scrumptious sharing plates I enjoyed had seafood as the main star. When dining restrictions open up, I’d recommend dining in with a sizeable group, so you can order more items off this sharing menu.

I hate it when squid/octopus are overcooked, rubbery & tough to the chew. Laut’s Squid Gado ($27+) was anything but that. The seared whole squid was done so marvellously that it was almost melt in your mouth… I had to pause to think about whether I actually put the correct thing in my mouth 😂 (just an excuse to have a 2nd bite, amiraiiii?)

& the “Gado” in the name – you guessed it – the peanut sauce in the Gado Gado we all know & love.

BUT WAIT, that’s not all. Introducing the Otah ($37+) – by far the most atas otah you’ve ever had… & dare I say, it is worth it. The mix of fish? Oh, no big deal, just some awesome barramundi, blended mackerel & squid. 🧐

This otah really left me wanting more. Its texture is bouncy & firm, & the rempah mix was on point with good flavour. I loved the Nyonya Achar on the side as well, which provided nice refreshing acidity in between bites. It actually also goes well with the otah in a single bite, too. On the whole, this was an addictive dish & one of my favourites of the night.

Now, on to the drinks. I tend to be wary when cocktails arrive at my table very pretty. I appreciate good aesthetics, but not at the expense of bad taste, i.e. saccharine sweet or artificially syrupy. This was anything but that; & the variety of bespoke cocktails here is quite impressive:

🔸Grass ($21+) – slightly savoury & refreshing 👌🏻
➡️ Gin, Ginger Flowers, Pickle Brine, 3 Grass Kombucha

🔸 Kopi O ($21+) – strong flavours, but thankfully I was able to sleep that night. Personally enjoyed the creaminess of the coconut oil that goes well with the coffee.
➡️ Trigona vodka, nitro charged Sumatra coffee, toasted bread vinegar, orange pekoe tea, coconut oil

🔸 Mata Kuching ($21+) – as a sweet treat, this isn’t my typical cocktail profile, but is likely an easy drink for some folks.
➡️ Aged malt, smoked longan distillate, rambutan & lychee soda, cat whiskers flower (they upsized our flower for us haha)

🔸Lengkuas ($21+) – refreshing, beachy vibes, feels like a summertime drink without the scorching heat or sunburn
➡️ Aged Malaysian Molasses, Citrus Granitas, Laut triple spiced ginger beer.

Thanks Damian / @drinking_noodle for the invite & hospitality! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🙋🏻‍♀️ Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

Tempura Makino’s First Outlet Outside Japan – in Suntec City

A well-established tempura specialty chain in Japan, Tempura Makino, has come to our shores! Conveniently located at #02-305/308/311 of Suntec City’s West Wing, it’s near Donki (if you need a landmark) & nearer to Esplanade than Promenade MRT.

Within the premises, there are options to dine at booth or counter seats – if you’re seated at the latter, you get a good view of chef freshly preparing made-to-order tempura.

Tempura Makino’s Interior – Booth/Counter Seats

Tempura Makino’s style of tempura is right up my alley. As you can see, the batter is light & crispy. Really appreciate how it’s not dripping (or even soggy – eeks) in oil. They even have Mochi Ice Cream Tempura ($4.80++/piece)!? There are 2 flavour options: Strawberry/Matcha. Mochi gives this dessert a chewy texture, alongside the ice cream which is creamy & takes a while to melt. While I don’t have a sweet tooth, hence am undecided if I’d order this again, this gets plus points for novelty.

I am a MASSIVE lover of eggs, & their Tempura Egg ($2.50++/pc) me greatly 😂 After seeing Jamie’s Instagram stories & hearing her rave about it, I must say it lived up to my expectations. I enjoyed every slurpy bit of it & could totally eat this on its own to savour the creaminess of the yolk. But I found myself pairing it together with the other tempura we had & enjoying it more that way.

Speaking of creamy – know what else is creamy? These Tempura Oysters ($3.80++/pc)! They were absolutely bursting in my mouth.. & I was shocked when Jamie revealed these are priced so affordably. IMHO they tasted & felt more lux than that. Will definitely order this again the next time I’m here.

Special shoutout goes to the noods, which are available in cold/hot options – we picked cold for both.

I loved how silky smooth the Inaniwa Udon ($7.80++) is, & enjoyed the Soba ($6.80++) that I nicked from Evan. Both are good for sure, & it probably is a matter of preference as both of us had a different favourite carb choice.

Wash down your meal with some refreshing ice cold draft beer – I had a pint of Asahi Super Dry ($13.80++/pint, $8.80++/half-pint)…

… Or pair it with their housepour sake:
❄ [Cold] Tomioh Gin No Tsukasa Junmai Daiginjo ($48++/300ml, $30++/180ml)
🔥 [Hot] Hakushika Nadajikomi ($30++/300ml, $20++/180ml)
🍶 They also have other sake bottles available for the discerning ones (i.e. not me)

Housepour Cold Sake – Tomioh Gin No Tsukasa Junmai Daiginjo

Other tempura items on their food menu include:
➡ Prawn & Vegetable Tempura ($16++): A nice platter of Prawns (3 pieces), Eggplant, Maitake (mushroom), Butternut Pumpkin, French Bean, Lotus Root

➡ Chicken Fillet ($5.80++/plate): I’m not a huge fan of chicken tempura, but this is one of the better ones out there. The chicken was juicy & thankfully not dry

➡ Mentai Seaweed ($6.80++/plate): A heaping amount of mentai in this one – personally too overwhelming for me, but A+ for generosity! Probably best eaten with rice to balance out the salty flavours. Seaweed remains crispy alongside the light tempura batter 👌🏻

➡ Asparagus ($2.80++/piece): My favourite veggie tempura of them all – well executed, with a lovely crunch to the bite. There’s an Asparagus with Bacon ($4.80++/plate) option as well, for the porky lovers. I’d imagine that’d add a nice savoury touch to the Taste of Green.

➡ Okinawan Mozuku Seaweed ($5.80++/plate): No this is not hair LOL. It’s quite a sight to behold, also delightfully crunchy, & I think this is where the light batter really shines. I can’t imagine this being enjoyable in a thicker batter & dripping in oil. I loved chowing down on this goodness with the tempura egg 😉

Thanks Jamie/EN Group for the invite & hospitality! 💕

Gather – Try it once & call it good

Comparing against previous reviews – looks like Gather has upped the price of the Off the Bone Galette ($18++). It had good texture, but the flavours were just ordinary. A bit too salty for me. I wasn’t expecting too much from ham, gruyere, cheddar & egg though, tbh.

White Coffee, 5oz ($5++) was weak & it felt like I was drinking milk. Wouldn’t recommend…

On the brighter side, service here was very attentive & the staff always made sure my glass of water was topped up & full.

In all, this felt like an overpriced tea time snack… Glad I tried it once, but unfortunately I personally wouldn’t return for more.

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
📱 Accepts GrabPay
🔊 Acoustics indoors are very echo-ey
📶 No free WiFi
💦 Water is not chargeable