Why is The Daily Cut’s Food So Oily?

Is it just me? Each time I eat at The Daily Cut, after the first mouthful I find it too oily for my liking. I come here wanting to eat healthier, & oil isn’t part of my must-eat.

The last time I dined here, I ordered the steak as well & paid extra for it. It was so tough that I broke TWO forks in TWO places, thereafter vowing never to eat steak at a place that uses only plastic cutlery. I didn’t even finish the beef because I was so tired of chewing.

My bowl which has good ingredients but was drenched in oil

Fast forward 3 years; the quality of the steak has definitely improved. But the oilyness that I remember still remains. I mean, I’d still finish the bowl, but…. #justsayin

I ordered the regular ($12 nett) bowl which comes with 2 bases, 1 protein (which you can substitute for 3 vegetarian-friendly supplements, 3 supplements, 1 topping, 1 dressing.

This is what I got –
· Bases: Whole-grain pasta & quinoa
· Protein: Striploin steak (+$1)
· Supplements: Bell peppers, brussels sprouts, egg whites, button mushrooms (I added $1 because I opted for an extra supplement)
· Topping: Toasted pumpkin seeds
· Dressing: Mint yogurt (which I eventually donated to a friend I bumped into)

Thankfully I had a 10% cashback boost from Shopback GO to lessen the pain. Still, though, not sure if I’d return here again. At least not in the next 3 years.

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🍽 Shopback GO partner
🏃🏻 Take-outs possible
📶 No free WiFi
🙋‍♀️ No service charge
🚫 No GST

Workspace Espresso – Healthy Eating at Velocity @ Novena Square

Initially, I wasn’t sure if I should be eating this much post-workout. But by the end of my meal I was like, Workplace Espresso Bar y’all did goooood.

Basic salads here cost $9.90 nett, includes 1 grain (but you can chose 2 types) + 2 cold proteins + 4 toppings + 1 sauce.

My DIY salad bowl at Workspace Espresso Bar (sauce on the side not pictured)

I opted for soba & couscous (you can mix 2 types for variety or just choose 1 type), chicken & diced prawns, grilled sweet potato, edamame beans, hard boiled egg, mushrooms, & lime cashew sauce on the side. Portions are big here; I was definitely full at the end of my meal.

I was particularly impressed by the chicken, as it wasn’t dry or tasteless. It was surprisingly moist & tasted slightly tangy too. Premium ingredients cost more – the chicken isn’t premium, but the diced prawns are.

Still a decent variety at the end of the night

Despite it being the end of the night (by the time I left, one of the staff was mopping the floor already), they still had a decent variety of ingredients, though some ran out (e.g. pulled beef).

Happy that I discovered Workspace Espresso Bar out of sheer coincidence; impressed with the quality, quantity & price point. Will definitely come back here to dine healthy again.

Even happier that I got to boost my cashback via Shopback GO to 20%, as it was my first visit & it coincides with this promotional period! After my first visit, it goes back to 3% cashback but that’s still a good deal.

A pleasant surprise from Shopback GO – just a tap of a button & my cashback is boosted!

My cashback was tracked in a matter of minutes after I paid, though I understand with some cards & some merchants it may take a while longer.

Shopback GO tracked my cashback very quickly

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
📱 ShopBack GO partner
📶 Free WiFi available

DIY Japanese Pancakes at a Cosy Okonomiyaki Joint

Won a prize from a Kiss 92 contest – vouchers to Ajiya Okonomiyaki. Great reason to check them out, having passed by many times but never stepped in.

Inside Ajiya Okononiyaki – a couple of counter seats

You can order 3 kinds of Okonomiyaki here – Seafood Deluxe ($16+), Meat Lovers ($15+), Veggie Delight ($13+). For each one, you can choose 3 ingredients from the list –

SEAFOOD: Prawns, squid, scallop, crabmeat, tobiko
MEAT: Bacon, belly pork, smoked duck, ham, cheese
VEGGIE: Shiitake, spinach, kimchi, grilled onions, capsicum

If you want a mixed combo, you can look to the Ajiya’s Combo ($16+) as an option, where you can pick 3 ingredients across all categories.

Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes) are served!

You get 10% off you DIY your own Okonomiyaki – presumably only possible if you sit where the hot plates are. I sat at the booth seats so I missed out; I can imagine it’d be pretty fun.

The waitstaff cook your pancakes for you, unless you request otherwise

I like how Ajiya’s okonomiyaki isn’t crazy oily, & it’s cooked nice & firm. The sauce, mayonnaise, seaweed flakes & bonito flakes are all self-service from bottles/containers at the table. Being able to control this to cater to personal preference is a value-add as well.

While this isn’t something I’d rave about or crave, I don’t think there are many Okonomiyaki places in Singapore, so this might be worth checking out. It’s fairly crowded on weekends, with customers sometimes having to wait a while for a table. My vouchers were not valid during Fri/Sat/Sun dinner hours – maybe that’s when it’s even MORE crowded?

Pro-tip: Don’t order 1 okonomiyaki per pax; save space for the other dishes on the menu! I enjoyed the appetizers & sides more than the okonomiyaki, actually. Good variety & freshly cooked, served piping hot or cold as it should be.

APPETIZERS
Century Egg Kani Tofu ($7+)

SIDES
Chawanmushi ($4+)
Homemade Gyōza ($7+)
Shio Koji Tori Karaage ($12+)

RICE/NOODLES
Garlic Fried Rice with Prawns ($6+)
Hiyashi Chuka Ramen ($12+)

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
📞 Accepts reservations – I called them
🙋🏻‍♀️ Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST
📶 Free WiFi available