SooOoOoo. I made this dalgona coffee thing. When it first started trending, I was honestly confused. But there’s something about the fluffy whipped texture that draws me in…
The recipe is simple – equal parts instant coffee powder, sugar, & hot water. I used 2 Chinese soup spoons for measure, & this was enough for 2 servings. I think if I did 3 spoons it would be okay too.
The instructions in theory are also simple – beat the living shit out of everything until it’s whipped & fluffy, yet stiff. In reality, it’s circumstantial; if you have a hand mixer, yeah it’s simple just let it run for 15 minutes. If you’re whisking this by hand….. I salute you. Good luck.
My Dalgona Coffee journey
How did it taste? I liked it! But once is enough, as I drink my coffee without sugar. So this is much more sugar than I am used to. I did, however, like how the creaminess of the milk goes so smoothly with the kick from the coffee.
Was a fun kitchen experiment that I guess we can all try since we’re cooped up at home.
I got to know of 小彭客家菜 Pang’s Hakka Delicacies through Veronica Phua, whose recommendations I trust very much. Hakka cuisine isn’t something I eat often, but I do enjoy a good Thunder Tea Rice 擂茶饭. It’s quite a polarizing dish; some will say it tastes too healthy (lol), others are addicted to it.
My mum is a fan of it, so I ordered a portion of Leicha ($7/set) for her & myself. It is only available with brown rice (#health) & has a minimum order of 5 sets. If you can’t finish all 5 sets, you can keep them in the fridge for a bit – or bless your neighbours with some a delicious contactless-food-delivery surprise!
Part of our lunch (not pictured: the other 3 Thunder Tea Rice sets required to make up the minimum order of 5)
You really get quality ingredients in this bowl with a thicccc green tea sauce. Yes, I called it a sauce – not a soup or broth, because it is that thick & chock full of flavours.
Our variety of Hakka delights
My dad isn’t a fan of Thunder Tea Rice (he doesn’t like little nibblies in his rice), so I ordered a portion of Hakka Mee Tai Mak ($7 for 250g, $24 for 1kg) for him. He happily slurped it up, though admittedly this is a small portion for a big eater like him. The Leicha is definitely a more filling dish!
I had to order their Abacus Seeds 算盘子 ($9 for 250g, $31 for 1kg) for all to share. Doughy soft & super fragrant, these were the best we’ve ever had. Heated all our dishes up the moment I got home, & my mum was so pleased with this meal that she now wants to make friends with Chef Pang. Hallo mother, people very busy cooking don’t disturb them hor.
Check out their menu on their social media pages (@hakkapang on Instagram / Facebook) , & WhatsApp them your order at least 2 days in advance. I opted for self-collection instead of delivery, & it was a fuss-free experience stepping into Antoinette to pick up my meal. There is ample street-side parking so I could easily do this on my own. Cash on delivery, all you need is the order number.
Fuss-free self-collection at Antoinette
Pang’s Hakka Delicacies has made one family very happy today!
I recently saw a recipe online on how to make mua chee in a rice cooker. Seemed like a lot less effort that dalgona coffee, so… Here we go 😂
Ingredients:
1.5 cups glutinous rice flour
3 tablespoons corn flour
1 cup warm water
Sesame oil to grease your tray
2 types of flour & peanut powder that I bought from the store
Steps:
Combine glutinous rice flour, corn flour & warm water in a bowl, mix well
Grease tray with sesame oil
Pour mixture into greased tray & put into a steamer*
Start steaming & check on it every 3 minutes, giving it a little stir each time^
You’ll know when it’s done when it can roll into a clean goopy ball – mine took about 12 minutes in total
Cut into pieces & toss in a bed of peanut powder
Serve to your excited parents
* Apparently rice cooker also works well ^ I feel like I didn’t need to stir it in the steamer, but all the rice cooker recipes mentioned stirring every 3 minutes
The final result?
I dare say it looks pretty yummy. & tasted great! My parents loved it too…. I’ll definitely make this mua chee again.
If you can’t go to the bars.. Let the bars come to you. Been seeing a plethora of bottled cocktails offerings pop up everywhere since circuit breaker measures were introduced in Singapore. Quite apt because I think most of us are going crazy staying at home.
Elite Bar Solutions took it a step further to pay it forward, & I was fortunate enough to receive a free GUDSHT cocktail of my choice, delivered to my home! I picked the Unicorn Barf ($48.00 nett), a glittery cocktail of Roku Gin with homemade Yuzu Rose Infusions & Butterfly Pea Syrup Infusion.
Recommended Home Serve
Ingredients
It’s quite unlike my usual drink choice.. Deeznuts ($54.00 nett) would be more aligned with my default. But I wanted to try something different, & Unicorn Barf sounded quite refreshing & floral.
Unicorn Barf ($48.00 nett)
Yo guys this kept me quite happy in the 2 nights that I drank it over. I wanted it to last longer (lol) so I served it over an ice ball – happy to report that it wasn’t too diluted at the end. I loved the citrus from the yuzu & also the sweetness (think sweet plum & honey) that was just right for me. I dislike insanely sweet cocktails, but this was fine.
Elite Bar Solutions‘ cocktails are free of preservatives, so they should be consumed within 10 days from bottling. Generally not a problem for me 😛
Unicorn Barf
Deeznuts
Keekapow
Rita’s Marga
Sangrila Utama
Price List for GUDSHT Cocktails
I usually float around to different bars to drink their cool cocktails (obviously), but also to appreciate their ambiance, as I’m mostly alone & enjoy it this way. Can’t do the latter anymore, but with a nice jazz playlist in my bedroom, cocktail in hand… I’m not really complaining. Yet.
Happy to be able to pay it forward myself by nominating someone to receive a bottled cocktail as well. I think I shall nominate the most extroverted extrovert I know, whom I’m certain is quite miserable during this circuit breaker period. & who also is an alc– I mean, who also enjoys tasty adult beverages, just like me. Yes, that’s what I mean.
I’ve been having the strangest craving for kombucha in recent weeks. So when I chanced upon Teapulse’s Instagram post that they now do island-wide deliveries (thanks, #circuitbreaker), I immediately jumped on it. Each day, they deliver to a different region based on location – makes a lot of sense for their logistics.
They have various options available:
“Pure” probiotics lemonade concentrates (250ml for $16)
“Pure” undiluted kombucha (800ml for $25, or 250ml for $5.20)
“Concoctions” of ready-to-drink kombucha/probiotics drinks (250ml for $5.60)
#1 & #2 come in glass jars/bottles (respectively); these should be mixed in the appropriate ratios before drinking. Fret not, it’s easy to do & your order comes with a detailed instructions sheet to follow.
Helpful instructions
For those who are lazy to mix up a storm, you can opt for #3 – these, however, come in plastic bottles which I’m not a fan of.
I DM-ed them on Instagram to get their order sheet, which they promptly sent over & informed me of what flavours (for #2) were available for the week. I filled it up to make up the minimum $30 for free delivery & sent it back to them on WhatsApp. Paid up by PayNow & they advised me on delivery timing.
Happily received my stash on time, the day of: #1 – Probiotics Brown Lemonade Concentrate #2 – Pure Kombucha (Osmanthus, Green Tea) #3 – Lemongrass Kombucha with Aloe Vera
My Teapulse stash of kombucha & probiotics lemonade concentrate
Immediately drank #3 (left-most one) & shared it with my mum – her first time. She liked it & didn’t find it too acidic/vinegary! As for the rest, I am slowly mixing them & going through my stash.
Pleased with this experience & will order from them again. Teapulse has actually been on my Burpple wishlist for a while, but I hadn’t had time to stop by their store at Phillip Street.
When the time comes & stores are allowed to re-open, I’d like to swing by to show my support. You can also get 1-for-1 drinks here on Burpple Beyond, which gives me even more reason to visit… Hehehe.
There’s always reason to try something new. For me, this is my first time dabao-ing beer in my own container!
Half Off Takeaway Draft Beer???
COVID-19 Circuit Breaker measures in Singapore – a month later, we’ll see 2 distinct groups of people emerge: (1) the Masterchefs, or (2) the Alcoholics Anonymous.
No prizes for guessing which group I belong to. Made my way down to FlagWhite after hearing about their half-off beer on tap promotion. They’d just opened a new keg before the Circuit Breaker measures kicked in place. Of course, I couldn’t let it go to waste!?!
Brought my own tumblers (meant for protein shakes lmao #fitspo) to dabao some beer home to have with dinner. Ended up getting twice the amount I originally planned for -although I think I was limited by the size of my container, so maybe not exactly twice.. But I’m happy to do my part to support my favourite local cafe.
Read for my Fitspo BEER SHAKE (just kidding)
I think we all know & love FlagWhite for their awesome brunch & coffee. I’d never drank anything alcoholic here before, tbh. But now that I know they have beer on tap… Maybe I should just set up a tent here & call this my new home. (After circuit breaker measures are over.)
Please continue to #loveyourlocalsg during this challenging time. Be responsible while you do so – wear a mask if you can, stay a safe distance away from others, & remember to wash your hands regularly (& moisturize!).
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬️ Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available (just 1 table outside) 📱 Accepts GrabPay 📶 Free WiFi available 🔌 Power sockets available 💦 Water is not chargeable 🙋🏻 No service charge 🚫 No GST
I’m glad I stopped by The M Plot after surfing Shopback GO for boosted cashback deals. They were running a 35% cashback (capped at $12) campaign & I caught it on the last day. Hooray for this unexpected discovery that they serve more than just macarons! They have cool 1-for-1 macaron deals on Burpple Beyond, & also are sometimes referred to as “The M Plot Macarons” in full, hence my confusion.
Started off my meal with a Flat White ($5.00 nett), which was served pretty quickly. It was fragrant with slight acidity to it. Not the best I’ve had, but I would order it again.
Flat White
For my brunch main, I ordered the Organic Eggs Benedict ($18.00 nett), which is served on a single artisan sourdough bread. The 2 eggs were poached to perfection; as I cut into them, the yolks burst open with gusto onto the sautéed spinach & grilled ham underneath.
The grilled ham was unfortunately way too salty for me, coupled with the already-tangy Hollandaise sauce, I felt the flavours were very overpowering. If the saltiness could be tweaked a little, I think this would be a stellar dish. The sourdough bread was easy to cut into, without a struggle – which I appreciate.
Organic Eggs Benedict
I bought some croissants home for my family – a sweet & savoury one. The Stego ($4.50 nett) is a roasted almond x almond paste variant, & the Mammoth ($4.90 nett) is a pork floss one. IMHO these are priced quite steep, but with Shopback GO’s 35% cashback, that eased the pain a little. I bought these as gifts, so I didn’t get to try them… But here are some pictures.
With brunch options, pastries & coffee, I shall return here again for sure. I’d order at the counter on the 1st floor, & head up the stairs to the 2nd floor to chill my morning/afternoon away. While there aren’t many seats in this small space, the floor-to-ceiling windows let in great ambient light to brighten the premises – although unfortunately there isn’t much of a view, looking out towards Clementi Road & the neighbouring overpass.
There even is an easel for kids (& adults, I suppose) to draw on & express their artistic talents. But I’m happy to just sit in a corner, using their free WiFi & listening to their chill music playlist playing softly in the background.
Easels for Diners to Draw On
But for now, during circuit breaker month, everyone stay indoors, safe & healthy. We’ll get through this together!
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 🍽 Burpple Beyond partner 🍽 Shopback GO partner 📶 Free WiFi available 💦 Water is not chargeable 🙋🏻♀️ No service charge 🚫 No GST ⬆️ Seats available on 2nd floor
Freehouse turned 4 recently (time flies – congrats!), but Taco Mantra taking over their kitchen was something that happened only recently.
Serving up Indian-Mexican fusion cuisine, their tacos (2 for $12, 3 for $15) are characteristically packed with lots of flavour, with ingredients nestled in a single soft flour taco.
Beef, Chicken & Fish Tacos
I thought the Kerala Beef & Chicken Tikka tacos were ordinary; my favourite was Ma’s Fish! It wasn’t too oily & the fish was tender, flaky & moist inside. The fruit salsa complimented the fried fish well, too.
I liked the Ma’s Fish Tacos best
A 4th variant, the Pulled Karana Jackfruit, was out of stock when we visited.. But it is meant to mimic pulled pork slathered in barbecue sauce. Would be curious to try it after seeing all the veganized food videos on YouTube!
If you & your friends are looking for finger food to go with the plethora of craft beer that Freehouse has on tap, you can consider Taco Mantra’s sharing platters. This one, the Platter for 2 ($60), has ribeye steak, fried pork belly (sio bak), chicken tikka, mantra wings & samosas. All platters are served with slaw, poppadum chips, mint yogurt & house sauce.
Platter for 2
For more manageable portion of snacks, you could opt for the Pachos ($15) – their version of poppadum nachos, or Quail Egg Sambal Fries ($15). The Grilled Cheese Naanwich ($15) isn’t an appetizer, but is quite highly snackable.
Pachos are Poppadum Nachos
Grilled Naanwich
Personally, though, I wasn’t a huge fan of these. I prefer the crunchiness of original nachos (the poppadum quickly became soggy where the sauce hits), & the sambal fries were too peppery for my tastebuds. I did love the bouncy quail eggs though, hehe.
Quail Egg Sambal Fries
Finger food does go well with beer, but as someone who isn’t much of a snacker, I’d rather spend my money on the tacos. Or, even better…
.. THEIR BURGERS. Taco Mantra’s burgers really stood out to me. The crowd favourite was the Spiced Lamb Burger ($20), & that was mine too. The lamb patty had the slight gameyness that I love, yet it’s palatable enough for others as it doesn’t overpower the flavours of the dish. Topped with a cool mint yogurt for good balance. I would order this again in a heartbeat.
The Double Cheeseburger ($24) was also good, with 2 juicy beef patties, cheese, sweet bacon onion jam & tangy dill pickle mayonnaise.Their patties are fairly thick, so IMHO a single patty would suffice. A Single Cheeseburger goes for $20.
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope (Freehouse) 📱 FavePay accepted 🍽 Shopback GO partner ⬆️ Located on the 2nd floor
As I entered The Elephant Room, I got seated at the bar I was served a Welcome Drink on the house. It was a clean & refreshing one of gin, green mango & sour plum. It gently woke my taste buds up.. I was ready to explore.
My Welcome Drink – gin, green mango & sour plum
The Elephant Room’s cocktails & nibbles are “inspired by Indian heritage” – cool concept, but I only truly understood this when I flipped through their menu. Reading through each drink’s descriptions & details, I learnt that each one has a story behind it. The stories are centered around Indian culture & childhood experiences, & iconic landmarks/experiences around Little India.
While these stories don’t necessarily resonate with me, I was captivated listening to the bartender tell them. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, this will be quite the novel & special experience for you.
Super unique infusions!
My drink of choice was Mogul’s Sweets ($22++), which alludes to the nostalgic memory of the local childhood sweet shop. I picked this because of the unique use of savoury, nutty ingredients: Salted cashews & roasted chickpeas. They sounded like they would go well with the characteristic spicyness of the Amrut, an Indian single malt whiskey.
& by golly, they did. This was delicious in a buttery-smooth & creamy way. It felt like I was drinking a nutty alcoholic milkshake. Despite the slightly oily notes it had (which I generally am not a fan of), I enjoyed it through & through til the very end.
Mogul’s Sweets ($22++)
If that doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, don’t worry. The Elephant Room has other cocktails like Tekka (Old Monk rum, spiced palm & banana skin), Jothi’s Flower Shop (Jasmine gin, davanam tinture, lime & honey) & Beeda Man (sour mango rum, caraway & jeera goli).
Whilst sipping on my drink, I was introduced to the other Amrut whiskey variants on the shelf. Being very new to Indian whiskey, I listened intently while being schooled about them. Service here was attentive & warm, & the bartenders are friendly & chatty. I did feel a bit bad having to work on my phone from time to time, but I was glad to be left alone when that had to be done. Appreciated 😉
Different types of Amrut Indian single malt whiskey
I ended off my night by sipping some of their Ghee liqueur neat. Honestly, it smells ordinary, but tastes AMAZING. It’s like liquid butterscotch on steroids!!! I don’t like ghee in my food, but I’d happily drink this all day. Totally blew my mind.
Ghee Liqueur – crazy good & smooth
The Elephant Room has sold me on these crazy funky infusions. I am sure it’s not easy to get the perfect balance, but I do hope they continue to reinvent their infusions & cocktails in fresh ways to keep things exciting. They already have these cool ones – ghee liqueur, briyani whiskey, chickpea whiskey!? Daaaamn son. Keep them coming.
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 📱 Accepts reservations via Chope
In the last year, I’ve patronised Rookery’s other outlet at Capital Tower fairly frequently, & it was packed each time I went. They must be doing well because they now have a 3rd outlet at China Square. Congrats guys!
There is a live band that plays on Thursdays, & it was a little too noisy for me to chat properly while they’re playing. However, it’s nice if you are dining solo or aren’t trying to make conversations with anyone. The band played a good mix of classic songs.
Regrettably, I forgot to take a photo of my drink after taking a few sips. That’s a Tokyo Martini hanging out in the back. My drink – the Old But Not Forgotten (Happy Hour $13++, U.P. $17++) – is in the foreground.
Happy Hour Cocktails
This well-rounded drink had much to offer, & is in line with my drink preferences. The smokeyness from the Laphroaig whiskey (ohh my love) & the burnt butterscotch, caramelized sweetness of brandied cherries, & citrus hints from the flamed orange peel.
If cocktails aren’t your thing, you can choose from their extensive menu of spirits. There’s bound to be something for everyone. I picked a Lagavulin 16 ($15++) on the rocks.
Lagavulin 16 on the Rocks
I usually order & enjoy pasta dishes at Rookery’s other outlets, so I was eager to try their mains. These mains are available from 11:30AM onwards, great for the CBD crowd to drop by for lunch & dinner. Being so used to their pasta & as noodle lover in general, I was surprised how much I enjoyed these mains.
I eat sooo much chicken at home that I rarely order chicken when I’m dining out. However, it delights me when I’m served up a good chicken – & that’s what the Roast Chicken & Stuffing ($25++) was. The cranberry stuffing made this dish slightly sweet, & you get your fill of carbs with the creamy mashed potato underneath & roasted pumpkin.
Roast Chicken & Stuffing
We unanimously decided that the Miso Glazed Norwegian Trout ($28++) was the best dish of the night. No wonder there’s a chef’s hat next to it on the menu! Served medium, it’s super moist inside & is a highly forkable piece of fish. It practically melts in your mouth.
Miso Glazed Norwegian Trout
Sliced cherry tomatoes & asparagus drizzled with garlic yuzu oil keep this dish light & fresh. The zucchini noodles underneath are tossed with a creamy pesto mayo that compliments the natural flavour of the trout. I do wish there were more zoodles to match the proportion of fish, as they were quite addictive.
If you’re all about the nibbly life, Rookery has a Tapas menu (available after 3PM) you can choose from. I can’t say much about the Har Cheong Gai Wings ($16++) as I don’t eat chicken wings, even more so when they are fried… But damn this smelled hella good.
Fragrant Har Cheong Gai Wings
The other tapas we had: ᛫ Wagyu Beef ($25++) ᛫ Meatballs ($17++) – these are made of beef, btw ᛫ Iberico Pork Ribs ($18++) ᛫ Sakura Ebi Capellini ($14++) ᛫ Crispy Pork Belly ($17++)
Wagyu BeefMeatballs (these are made from beef) Iberico Pork RibsSakura Ebi CapelliniCrispy Pork Belly
As a seafood lover, the Scallops ($22++) is totally my kind of tapas. Nicely seared Hokkaido scallops that are plump & juicy, served in a pool seaweed & miso butter. As I chomped down on my first scallop, I liked how firm its texture was without being rubbery. I dipped the crispy thin toast into the butter & was impressed. It’s pretty good; I had to go for seconds.
Scallops Tapas
You might think the Vongole Alla Blanc ($16++) is served with the same sauce as the Scallops, but they tasted different to me. The Korean clams are swimming in a broth made from garlic, white wine & chilli flakes for a nice kick. I preferred to dip my toast into this one!
Vongole Alla Blanc
Thanks Rookery for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope 🎶 Live Band on Thursdays
Bui Bui Eats 