Unique & Traditional Yusheng Options at Tanamera Coffee for Lunar New Year

How intriguing – Pecel Yusheng ($45.80+) is Tanamera Coffee’s spin on lunar new year yusheng, which has a variety of veggie noodles, fried tofu (which we forgot to put in frame for the picture 😂), hard boiled eggs, peanut crackers & smoked salmon. Definitely getting some good fibre & nutrients in with carrots, red & white cabbage, radish, turnip, cucumber & capsicum here.

Pecel Yusheng (imagine the fried tofu is also in frame…)

With an Indonesian-style peanut sauce as the dressing, this reminded me of gado-gado in salad form that you can toss & shout auspicious sayings while doing so.

I found this unique & quite delicious… Petition to put this permanently on the menu as an option, please! They actually already have this on the regular menu as Pecel ($11.80+), but it comes with veggie sticks instead of thin veggies noodles.

I loved the oodles of spirulized noodles, although great care must be taken when apportioning them as they are really long strands…. But I guess that symbolizes mucho longevity 长命百岁 am I right?? 🕺🏻

Tanamera Coffee also offers the Traditional Yusheng ($45.80+) option – it is what you’d expect it to be, & I appreciate that this dish isn’t as sweet as some other yushengs I’ve had.

Special shout-out to the copious amounts of crackers 黄金满地, which I believe kids would love… & perhaps adults too (adults are essentially just very big kids, right?). My family always adds an extra packet of crackers to our yusheng for the kids each year 😊

A 3-day advance order must be placed for all yusheng orders; last day to do so is CNY Day 1 初一 22nd Jan 2023 (for it to be ready on the 25th). If you purchase 2 yusheng platters (Pecel or Traditional yusheng), you can get them for a special promo price of $88+ for a pair.

Thanks Burpple for the invite & Nana from Tanamera Coffee for the hospitality! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Indoor seats available
☀️ Outdoor seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
🍴 Burpple Beyond partner: 1-for-1 Mains / Beverages
🙋🏻‍♀️ Service charge applicable (for dine-in)
🚫 No GST
📶 Free WiFi available

Lighthouse Bistro – Good, Casual Western Cuisine

I usually wouldn’t order mocktails, but the Burpple Beyond 1-for-1 deals at Lighthouse Bistro were for mains-mocktails pairs (with some exclusions).

The drinks were alright, nothing fancy… But the mains were pretty good!

All of us left the restaurant satisfied with the decently-sized portions & good flavours:

🔸Honey Charred Chicken ($19++)
🔸Sous Vide Australian Ribeye ($28++)
🔸Baked/Grilled Sea Perch ($24++)
🔸Smoked Duck Breast ($28++)

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations – I used Chope
🍽 Burpple Beyond Partner
💦 Water is not chargeable

Evan’s Kitch – Humble Corner, Extensive Menu

Evan’s Kitch is a humble eatery in City Gate mall with an impressively large menu. Took me some time to sift through the many pages & take in all the options – pretty varied, from snacks to brunch fare, main courses, desserts, as well as tea & other drinks.

I’d say the food here is its strength – both in variety & flavours. Choose from brunchy toast dishes (loaded with a plethora of ingredients) & main courses packed with delicious flavour to fill your belly..

.. & speaking of belly, here’s a picture of one of their signature dishes – Spaghetti Pork Stew Stock with Japanese Char Siew Pork Belly ($24++) 😉

Spaghetti Pork Stew Stock with Japanese Char Siew Pork Belly

They are also a Burpple Beyond merchant; a Set for 2 here goes for $55, which gives you 2x mains + 2x drinks. & if you use my promo code EMIL005, you get 30% off Burpple Beyond 😀

My favourite dish was the North Malaysia Slow Cooked Coconut Beef Stew ($24++), also another signature dish of theirs. This heavyweight winner was a rich, creamy rendang with tenderly stewed cubes of beef. The level of heat in this spicy stew wasn’t overpowering & that was how the flavours truly shine.

North Malaysia Slow Cooked Coconut Beef Stew

You might think the egg is out of place in this one – but nah, I quite liked it. It added to the creamyness of the already-lemak rendang in a pleasant way.

I reached for second helpings of the sourdough toast to dip into the stew. Just too good. I can imagine this going super well with rice (which I believe is an option available) – comfort food after a long, arduous day in the office…. Mmmm.

Brunch fare here is more than just toast & things. We tried 2 options:
🔸 Umami Mentaiko Smoked Salmon Toast ($21++)
🔸 Asian BBQ Pulled Pork Toast ($17++)

I favoured the smoked salmon one over the pulled pork – as I’m not a fan of pulled pork in general. I also felt the creaminess of & cabbage slaw was at loggerheads with the acidity of the BBQ flavours & citrus sauce. However, it’s something unique for sure – so if you’re adventurous, I’d say give it a shot.

Teeming with housemade japanese mentaiko & tobiko, the Umami Mentaiko Smoked Salmon Toast is where Chef Evan goes all out with his creativity here.. There’s even chicken floss in this salmon dish!? Hand to heart, not sure how I feel about that..

.. But overall, the flavours came together fairly well. Umami came through from the salmon roe, brineyness from the smoked salmon itself, nicely poached nuyolk eggs & a sprinkle of scallions & furikake – on a crispy, toasted sliced of sourdough.

Seasonal Fresh Truffles Parmesan Cheese Fries

If you’re seeking out the lighter side of life & just looking for munchies, there are options here too. We nibbled through these dishes on the small bites menu:
🔸 Asian Chili Chicken Karaage ($12++)
🔸 Seasonal Fresh Truffles Parmesan Cheese Fries ($16++)

Had some teas (both cold brewed & hot ones) while we made a toast to good health:
🔸 Amint Tea ($6.50++)
🔸 Empire Citrus Tea ($7.50++)

Cold Brew Teas – Amint Tea & Empire Citrus Tea

& ended off with some sweet treats:
🔸 Aburi Pandan Coconut Cheese Cake ($12++)
🔸 Strawberries Bread Pudding & Vanilla Ice Cream ($11++)

Thanks Burpple for the invite, & Evan’s Kitch + Chef Evan for the hospitality! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope & Quandoo
🍽 Burpple Beyond Partner
📶 Free WiFi available

The Tiramisu Hero – A Plethora of Flavoured Tiramisus

Thank you The Tiramisu Hero for acceding to my request of putting a candle into our tiramisu to surprise mum!

Ordering for dine-in is done through the app – which is a bit of a hassle cos you need to sign up/log-in/enter credit card details to pay (there is a cash payment option though).. But it made it easy to sneak in the candle request by typing it in swiftly 😛

They are a Burpple Beyond merchant too – however, the 1-for-1 deals are for main courses & not their tiramisus.. In this picture:

Foreground: Original Tiramisu ($7.50+)
Background: Brown Rice Tiramisu ($7.50+)

💳 Accepts credit cards
💵 Accepts cash
📱 Order using their app
🙋🏻‍♀️ Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

Found My Happy Ending in Pizza

I discovered Happy Ending Pizza on Burpple Beyond during Phase 2 of Circuit Breaker, when they were a hole-in-the-wall space in Orchard Towers serving only takeouts.

It was a cool October night; I’d ordered 2 pizza sets from them 2 hours in advance. Stood by the roadside eating my piping hot pizza, & I was impressed. The Mushroom Madness & Green Hulk I ordered were delicious, but I couldn’t finish everything – so I kept the leftovers in fridge & heated them up the next day.

Standing outside Orchard Towers gobbling pizzas

Guess what? The 2nd-day pizza still tasted good. & that, my friends, was the beginning of my happy ending. They’ve since relocated to City Gate, where you can enjoy their pizzas with a dine-in experience.

Janan, the founder of Happy Ending Pizza’s shared his pizza philosophy (pizzalosophy?) & the genesis of his brand. Essentially, he believes that the entire pizza should be enjoyed, with nothing left behind.. Including the crust. & the crust is what makes a happy ending (to your meal) (what were you thinking, you filthy animals).

New dine-in space at City Gate, neon lights aplenty

You’ll believe it when you try it for yourself. Even the non-crust-lovers at the table didn’t have a crumb left on their plates. The pizzas come with sauces as well, which is unique as much as it seems strange. I’m a carb-loving monster that could eat these fluffy crusts on their own, but if you need that extra flavour, go ahead & dip your crust into the sauce for a flavour explosion in your mouth.

As a hardcore fungi & fun guy lover, Mad About Mushrooms ($27) was actually my favourite of the night. A simple savoury pizza topped with 3 different types of mushrooms, gooey stretchy cheese, & drizzles of fragrant truffle oil. The earthiness of the mushrooms are comforting to me, as much as the chewy pizza base is. If you’re looking for a reliable/traditional pizza option to fall back on, you won’t go wrong with this one.

Should you be on the hunt for something more quirky, give the Holy Crab! ($28) a shot. They actually use real crab meat here – plump, juicy, succulent pieces. It’s slathered with their special chilli crab sauce which is also served on the side as an excellent crust dip. I liked how this isn’t crazy spicy, & that the flavours stay quite true to what you’d expect of a chilli crab inspired pizza. Definitely a winner in my books.

If you’re in the mood for more heat, Spicy Babe ($28) might be for you.. This one is for the mala lovers. The toppings are fairly simple – beef, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella & parmesan cheese. The pizza base is mala-infused, but the real heat comes from the sichuan chilli slathered all over the toppings. It packs a decent punch, while still remaining quite remaining palatable.

Thanks Happy Ending Pizza Parlour for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

Chinese New Year with Burpple #huatwithburpple

Chinese New Year may be different this year, but the puns are still the same – #happyniuyear, #oxpiciousnewyear, in my case #qige笼dongchiangdongchiang as seen below 🤪

I’ve always loved Burpple‘s well-designed merch, feel like I might have collected them all – shirts, stickers, tote bags, tissue packs.. But hot off the press this year are their angbaos & cloth face mask. I must say, great quality stuff as usual!

The angbaos are sturdy & so adorable, definitely giving them to my nieces & nephew this CNY. Scan the QR code at the back of these angbaos to get a neat $30 off a new Burpple Beyond Premium plan 😍

& with masks being a necessity nowadays, I’m happy to receive reusable ones that I can use to stay safe. This one is soft & comfortable, & aptly proclaims my love for food. It’s also adjustable (which I value, as standard masks don’t fit my face well) & comes thoughtfully packed with a PM2.5 filter sheet.

Thanks Burpple for sending over this Chinese New Year media kit! If these caught your eye & you want in on this, head on to Burpple’s Instagram page to participate in their giveaway.. You might just be their next lucky winner:

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That Coffee and Beer Place – Affordable Breakfast Sets

Tucked in a corner of Onze @ Tanjong Pagar, an inconspicuous condominium nestled in a cul-de-sac, I don’t think That Coffee and Beer Place gets much passerby traffic. It was Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 deals that brought me here.

The Entrance to That Coffee and Beer Place

Burpple Beyond Premium Membership gives you 2 Coffee/Tea deals, 2 Set Meal deals. I originally wanted to just get a coffee, but the breakfast set (served 8 – 11AM, Mon – Sat) deal was pretty tempting.

Breakfast Set = 1 Baked Good + Coffee/Tea. There are 2 different price points: $6.90 or $5.90 per set. I bought the more expensive one, choosing both options for baked goods to cover all ground:

Turkey Ham & Cheese Croissant
Smoked Salmon Quiche

Both of these are $5.90 on their own, so this set is really worth it. & when you swipe Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 deal, you save even more!

My croissant was deflated by the time I reached home, probably from being heated up before being packed away 😢 It looked sad, but was surprisingly delicious! Sufficient saltiness from the turkey ham, harmonized with the slight creaminess of the emmental cheese. The croissant wasn’t crispy anymore, but if you saw this as a light & flaky piece of bread, I guess that’s ok 😂

I thought I’d like the quiche more, but I wasn’t a fan of the mushyness of the salmon. I’d prefer larger flakes of chunky fish.. But that’s my preference. Taste wise, it was okay. It is pretty dense, with a good crumbly crust.

Which one would I order again? The croissant, actually. Even though the quiche is substantially more filling. I just liked the flavours a lot better.

What I liked best, though, was the Cafe Latte. It was creamy & smooth. Started my day off on a good note. I’d head back here again just for this when I next drop my sister off at work!

Or maybe I’ll try the $5.90 breakfast sets: Butter Croissant, Chocolate Danish, Jalapeño Cheese Brezel… Which one sounds good?

Ps: As you can infer from their name, they also serve beer here! I also love how they have a cute bottle opener mounted where the cash register is 😂

💵 Cash/NETS only
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner
📶 Free WiFi available
💦 Water is not chargeable
🙋🏻‍♀️ No service charge
🚫 No GST

The M Plot’s Brunch & Coffee – A Pleasant Surprise

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.

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.

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.

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

Rookery’s 3rd Outlet Serves Up Good Mains, Plentiful Tapas & Drinks

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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++)

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.

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!

Thanks Rookery for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
🎶 Live Band on Thursdays

Hopscotch – Unique Cocktails & 1-for-1 Mains with Burpple Beyond

I remember the days where Hopscotch was a cosy bar inside the Red Dot Traffic Building, whipping up a good variety novelty cocktails. They haven’t deviated from this specialty, but the vibes here now are quite different in the hipster/artsy enclave of Gillman Barracks.

Walking to Hopscotch (don’t park illegally like these cars!)

They still keep things interesting, changing their menu up once in a while. They’re on their 5th menu at the moment, with Singapore or Asian themed cocktails.

My cocktail of choice: Kungfu Hustle (U.P. $22++/HH $15++), which has a base of Chrysanthemum infused scotch. It’s exactly what I look for in a cocktail: Strong, & not sweet. A harmonious balance of floral rose honey, fragrant Gunpowder Tea (珠茶), with a hint of heat from young ginger. Also, check out the bottle it’s served in – soooo aesthetic.

Happy Hour is 5:30 – 8:30PM daily, & yes I could get HH prices on my cocktail ($15++) despite redeeming a Burpple Beyond deal on the same bill. I always make sure I check, & never to assume. I appreciate it when restaurants are flexible like that, so thank you Hopscotch!

Shelves of games you can play – fun idea

The Ribeye Steak ($26++) is part of the Burpple Beyond 1-for-1 menu options. 220g of New Zealand Grass-fed Black Angus Ribeye. It’s a simple hunk of steak, with not much else to the dish. It lies on a light swoosh of Purple Potato Mash that wasn’t very carby, & has a small side of sauteed baby spinach for you to get your veggies & fibre in.

I opted for my usual medium rare, but was afraid that at this thickness it’d be a little tough. But it wasn’t! It was also seasoned pretty well; I didn’t need to dip it in the veal jus served on the side – though that was tasty too. (My dad lapped it up quite eagerly…)

Ribeye Steak, eligible for Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 deal

Hopscotch’s Chilli Lobster Tagliatelle ($28++) pays homage to local flavours with a chilli sauce of local spices & a lobster-based stock. The chewy homemade tagliatelle pasta was firm to the bite, & the half a Boston lobster it comes with is fairly meaty. The heat isn’t unbearable, in all quite pleasantly tingly on the tongue with a subtle sweetness.

Being a pasta & seafood lover, I would order this again. Exceptionally pleased that I got this at “half price” thanks to Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 main deals, too!

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope & Quandoo
🍽 Burpple Beyond partner
🏃🏻 Shopback GO partner
💦 Water is not chargeable