Rabbit Carrot Gun‘s Specialty Cocktails menu had me taking a second glance. They aren’t discounted during Happy Hour… But I still went for these 2. Yes, even without the discount.
Started off with a Smokey Bloody Mary ($21++), which sounds like a match made in heaven. I enjoyed the taste of health from the tomato (hahaha) & also the woody, peatyness from the Old Young’s Oak Smoked Vodka. The cheeky spice that hits you at the back of your throat is what I appreciate in a good Bloody Mary, too. In all, this was very enjoyable.
Smokey Bloody Mary
Felt like I couldn’t stop there, so I ordered another Specialty Cocktail: the Earl Grey Martini ($18++). I appreciated how the subtle flavours of the chilled Earl Grey Tea really came through, despite the strength of the vodka. A dash of sugar syrup sweetened this cocktail just nicely without making it too saccharine sweet.
Earl Grey Martini
Would be back, though probably just for drinks as the food is on the pricey side. Other Specialty Cocktails here include: • Mango & Pepper Gin & Tonic ($19++): House-infused Mango Gin, topped with cracked black pepper • Hugalibre ($18++): Angosutra 1919 Rum, Fresh Lime, Ginger Ale
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available 🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope ☀ Al fresco seats available 💦 Water is not chargeable
I’ve been wanting to pop by Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar for the longest time – finally did, albeit when happy hour was just over.
Happy Hour at this hole in the wall at CHIJMES is 4 – 7PM (Mon – Sat) / 2 – 8PM (Sun). Pints of craft beer go for $10+, premium craft beer for $12+.
Happy Hour at Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar
I missed Happy Hour, but I still enjoyed my pint of Passionfruit Wheat Ale ($14+) from Pasteur Street Brewing. Citrusy & fruity, there are hints of passionfruit & lemon, more so the former than latter so it isn’t sour like a saison. A light & delicious beer that pleases the crowd, & which I would order again.
Light & refreshing, I’m sure Pasteur Street’s Passionfruit Wheat Ale is a popular beer
Happy Hour or not, whatever you swipe your (linked) credit card for, you’ll get cashback from Shopback GO! I actually didn’t know this until I checked my phone after I swiped 😂
Sat at the bar counter with my back turned to the world; but before I immersed myself in some me time, I looked around & found the decor to be pretty simple. With various tones of grey & silver, the style is very metallic, almost like the interior of a spaceship.
One downside is that reception was pretty bad here.. I sat at the bar, not sure if it varies throughout the premises as they don’t have a huge space). WiFi also isn’t for public use, so I left after 1 beer.
I’ll probably return with a friend, or if I have offline work to do. 🍻
They had a food menu which I didn’t order from – instead, this coaster was my food for thought
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 🍽 Shopback GO partner 📶 No free WiFi 🙋🏻♀️ Service charge applicable 🚫 No GST
Burpple Beyond is rolling out their new Premium & Lite plans, & I’m giving away 1 of each to 2 lucky winners. Visit the contest posts on @wobblethebui & Bui Bui Eats below to participate! Giveaway closes 8th Oct 2019.
Yesterday was International Coffee Day – I found this out only when the day was almost over! But perhaps it’s this special day that gave me the good luck I needed to uncover a great coffee stall at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre.
My dad regularly orders coffee from Hylam Street Old Coffee 海南街老咖啡, after a friend introduced it to him & he got hooked. He then did the same to me, & now I’m hooked too.
Kopi C Kosong + Kopi
We’re always here during off-peak hour (past 2pm on a weekday), so the queue is minimal if even there at all. During crowded times, the queues can get pretty snaking long, I’ve heard!
This is clearly for good reason. The amazing fragrance of roasted beans, superb taste, & affordability. When I walked forward to place my order, I could smell the beans immediately. That made me change my order of tea to a coffee before I blurted it out to the uncle.
In terms of taste, I really can’t ask for more. It has the socksy kopitiam taste that you want in a cup of hawker centre coffee. It’ll definitely give you that kick awake that you need in the morning/mid-day.
& the price? $2 total for this kopi & kopi C kosong. Who needs volume when you’ve got quality; want more, just buy 2 cups lor. Still cheaper than Starbucks.
Took me a while to get acknowledged by the staff at The Oyster Bank – waiting at the “please wait to be seated” sign for almost 5 minutes didn’t exactly give me a very good first impression to begin with.
Happy Hour here is from 12 – 9PM daily, & Happy Shucking Hour is 5 – 8PM on weekdays, 3 – 6PM on weekends. Double reasons to be happy. This was the reason why I came here in the first place.
The Oyster Bank’s bar area
During Happy Shucking Hour, naked oysters go at $2++ a pop (usual price $3.90++). You can order a maximum of 6 naked oysters per drink.
6 naked oysters
I ordered a glass of Somerton Cabernet Sauvignon ($10++ HH / $13++ U.P.); was shocked to find a glass of white wine delivered to me. They messed that up, but nothing unforgivable lah. Sent it back & got a glass of the correct wine shortly after.
Naked oysters with red wine? Yes.
The oysters are pretty delicious; not crazy plump, but I love how they are quite creamy & with a hint of brineyness to them. Wine was not bad, so in all I’d return for Happy (Shucking or otherwise) Hour again.
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 🛋 Bar & table seats available 📶 Free WiFi (Funan is a CapitaLand Mall)
Shopback GO led me here – surfed the app for cashback boost locations & this piqued my curiosity. So I made the trip down to The3Peas. Interesting to note that this hidden bar is actually located along my usual running route… So I pass by at least twice a week. Considerably incognito, I love it.
Don’t hunt too hard though – it’s located on the riverside bank opposite The Warehouse Hotel; just look for the 7-11 & it’s right next door. You’re welcome!
On the opposite bank is The Warehouse Hotel
I started off with something from their specialty cocktail menu – they have 7 on the list, but can whip up something to suit your preference. This is the beauty of a bespoke cocktail bar – & an added plus to me: Prices here are very reasonable.
My poison of choice, a little predictably, was the Glen O’ Fashioned ($20 nett) – Glenfiddich 12 whiskey, snow pear demerara reduction & acanthopanax bitters. Served in a chilled glass with a burnt orange slice. Sipped on it slowly as I did my own thing at the bar seats, & also talked to Eunice who was very friendly, chatty & passionate.
Glen O’ Fashioned
Aside from specialty cocktails, The3Peas also serves alcoholic bubble tea.. Fascinating. As a 0%-sugar bubble tea drinker, I was slightly hesitant to try this. But after talking to Eunice & hearing her take me through their alcoholic bubble tea offering, I knew I had to try one.
Their 3 standard offerings cover whiskey, gin & rum: Frambo-licious, Peach Ginie & Gingerbread Snap respectively, all at $15 nett a pop. But they can also do a bespoke surprise for you at $20 nett, which is still quite affordable.
I chose Peach Ginie (gin-based), which has freshly whipped cream on top a base of jasmine green tea. I enjoyed how the tea wasn’t bitter, even as I sipped on its fresh clearness – if you know what I mean (milk tea drinkers where ya at)
When you reach the bottom, you get the creaminess to end off the drink on a very lovely note. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would!
Alcoholic bubble tea – served just like actual bubble tea
The pearls in these alcoholic bubble teas aren’t your traditional tapioca flour pearls. Think sizable fruit pops that burst in your mouth to reveal fruity flavours.
Don’t misinterpret these as saccharine sweet balls that will make you gag. They are only slightly sour if anything at all. I loved them. Mine were lychee, but they also have mango & strawberry fruit pops.
The whipped cream ends off your drink on a superb note
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 🍽 Shopback GO partner 📶 No free WiFi 🙋♀️ No service charge 🚫 No GST 💦 Water is not chargeable
I’ve always wanted to visit The Guild, having heard so much about their food as much as their drinks. This place is a collaboration between Hong Kong’s Young Master Brewery & Chef Vinny Lauria – so the fine balance of food & tasty beverages shouldn’t come as a surprise, really.
Entrance to The Guild
I mildly panicked when I learned that a new menu was being rolled out, but my fears were alleviated as I learnt that the hot favourites were being kept on the menu. Phew!
Chef Alton Huang working his magic
Our night unfolded in magnificent chronology – starting off with some Small Plates. Their In house Smoked Local Sea Bass ($13++) was impressive even to a non-fish-lover like myself. The skin was crispy – & y’all know I hate skin, but I ate this & enjoyed it! The fish meat itself was smokey indeed, but not in an off-putting way. That’s the Lychee Wood talking, & it pairs well with the home-made laksa pesto drizzle.
This beauty comes on a delightful salad of fennel, fresh green apple & herbs tossed in a tangy Young Master Brewery Vinaigrette. An intense yes accessible dish.
In house Smoked Local Sea Bass – an item from The Guild’s Small Plates menu
General Tso’s Frog Legs ($16++) is one of the hot favourites at The Guild. While frog dishes aren’t too uncommon in Singapore, having them as an appetizer is quite unique! Frog meat tastes like chicken to some (myself included), & I envisioned this to be like some sort of elevated chicken wing dish.
I wasn’t disappointed – each of the meaty frog legs is deep-fried & slathered with a generous coat of homemade sauce. The harmonious blend of orange, ginger & soy is great, & lays a good base for the chilli which packs a PUNCH! If you can’t handle spice at all, this isn’t for you. Very shiok to wash it down with a nice cold beer… Of which The Guild has plenty, by the way.
General Tso’s Frog Legs – like chicken but better
The Brawn Terrine ($13++) exemplifies what The Guild calls “nose to tail eating”. Sustainability & minimising food waste is admirable; this dish is made using pig’s head (which supposedly contains a high level of collagen!). Brined for 6 days & thereafter braised for another 6 hours, this is what gives the meat that meltingly tender texture.
Brawn Terrine – “nose to tail eating”
Understandably, some may be squeamish at the thought of eating pig’s head. I guess this isn’t for everyone, but it was memorable for me. I particularly liked its uniqueness, & also the flavours – robust, meaty, & served with pickled vegetables that cuts through that flavour, on top of crispy charred bread.
Pig’s head ain’t that bad…
The Guild’s Mac N’ Cheese ($21++) is LEGENDARY – for its crazy intense flavour, but also how picture-perfect it is. Just look at that house-cured egg yolk in the middle; it’s pure liquid gold. Mixed in with the rich AF cheddar sauce, this is possibly the most heavenly Mac & Cheese I’ve ever had.
Consider this fair warning, though – this is crazy creamy, I doubt anyone could comfortably finish this on their own. Not even a Bui Bui like me! Best shared amongst friends over good conversation.
Legen-dairy Mac N’ Cheese
The Salisbury Rubbed Hanger Steak ($37++) met with oohs & aahs as it was served. 250 grams of chunky hunky, this is one dish that I DON’T WANT TO SHARE because damn it’s good & you can never have enough beef 😂
I could honestly eat this on its own, but the roasted garlic aioli & laksa pesto are great for those who want added flavour & sauciness.
250g of Salisbury Rubbed Hanger Steak
The Guild’s vegetables menu is quite cool too. Egg(plant)ception ($18++) is a mind-boggling dish of eggplants cooked in 5 different ways: Marinated with Balsamic Vinegar, Breaded & deep-fried, Pickled, Smoky Purée, & Butter Roasted. My favourite is the butter roasted one 😉
An eggplant & an eggplant & an eggplant… 5 times over
The Grilled Spicy Cabbage ($14++) is another one for the spicy lovers. Lovingly charred, the acidity of the the tomato vinaigrette was delicious, & the spiciness very welcomed & refreshing. Topped off with a motherload of scallions for that added crunch – as if the cabbage itself weren’t crunchy enough already. Good way to get your veggies & fibre in!
Grilled Spicy Cabbage
In all, The Guild is a great place to tuck in to unique creations, & you’ll appreciate this place even more if you are someone who enjoys alcoholic beverages.
Aside from the plethora of beers they have on tap, they also have Gin & Tonic, & Highball Whiskey on tap. These are very popular; the Guildhouse G&T & Guildhouse Highball both go for $16.00++ a pop. & they also make a pretty mean Negroni..
Thanks Danielle & The Guild for the hospitality, & Damian for the invite! 💕
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 🖥 Accepts reservations on Chope
Finally. I made my way down to The Feather Blade. Shopback GO may or may not have a part to play in this….. There was 10% cashback boost til a couple of days ago, I knew I had to visit! That promotion’s done with, but their usual 5% cashback is still pretty bomb.
Queued for 15 mins slightly past 8PM on a weekday; got a seat at the bar counter for myself. Not too shabby.
Popcorn to snack on while I waited
Wasn’t asked how I’d like my steak ($21++), but it was done medium rare, which is how I’d like it to begin with. Very pleased with the steak as much as the side of Mushrooms ($7++) that I ordered.
Juicy steak with a side of mushrooms
If you’re looking for #propersteaks, this is the place to be. Yes, it reminds me of Flat Iron in London, but so what? Give me a delicious steak & you’ll make me very happy. 🥩
#propersteakshere
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 🍽 Shopback GO partner 💦 Water is not chargeable
Itching for something to do after work on my birthday, I decided to head down to 6 Grey Bar. I tried being a good student & do some homework beforehand, but I didn’t find much info online.
Entrance to 6 Grey Bar along Jiak Chuan Road
So… I’m not a gin expert, but their variety here is impressive. Chit-chatted quite a bit with Jo; we skipped past Brockmanns, Gin Mare, Botanist, Roku, Bulldog… All of which are delicious, but which I’ve tried before.
Extensive collection of gin
Then the fun started. Jo introduced me to several unique gins that I’ve never heard of before. Think Wasabi Gin, Ant-infused Gin… You might assume these are gimmicky. I’ll admit, they drew me in. But that aside, the flavours are pretty special. Worth a shot (or two 😂).
Gin with actual green ants inside
Wasabi gin!
I’m an early bird, & if you’re like me you will love the quietness of this place – they also have an excellent playlist, btw. I enjoyed my French Earl Grey Gin & Tonic ($22 nett) as much as I did my Me Time.
My G&T
On Fridays/Saturdays (depending on when they have events planned), it gets crowded here as the night goes on. DJs lined up & all! Looks like I’ll have to return when my party mode is on 🎉
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats available ☀ Al fresco seats available 📶 Free WiFi available – from Hotel 81 next door 😂 🙋🏻♀️ No Service Charge 🚫 No GST 💦 Water is not chargeable
In search of The Old Man, I kept my eyes peeled for the single pineapple lamp outside (thanks Google) & when I found the wooden doors, I pushed them open carefully.
Table seating area, good for groups
As I peered behind the black curtains, I was warmly welcomed into the dimly lit premises. Was ushered to a bar seat, being a convenient party of 1 & the tables mostly had groups of 4 pax at least.
I was handed a nice tight menu of 9 cocktails. I read through them & was impressed by how thoughtfully crafted this menu is. While mostly gin-based, other cocktails use unique bases like Vermouth, Absinthe, Pisco & White Rum.
Cocktail Menu at The Old Man
The ingredients of the cocktails here are also very bespoke, with infusions & sous-vide ingredients. & a lacto-fermented raspberry (what!). If you’re someone who loves trying unique drinks, you might have difficulty choosing which ones to have. They all sound great.
One of the guys, Louis, saw that I was alone & came over to chit chat for a while. He was very friendly without bordering on intrusive. Made me feel very at ease. He also offered to explain the menu to me if I wanted, but I was in quite a mood, so I wanted some time to myself & that was cool with him too.
I got lucky & was here just before peak period hit. It got real crowded by the time I left, such that many were standing & drinking – not that they seemed to mind, though.
T-shaped bar area
My first drink, The Sun Also Rises #1926, mixes curry leaf infused Bulldog gin with copra fat-washed applejack. While gin infusions aren’t new to me (I loved this one btw), fat-washing is.
Fat-washing is a technique that infuses a fatty flavor into an alcohol. I’m not sure if you’re supposed to taste the fats (in this case, coconut oil – I could only smell, not taste it), but I couldn’t & I hope it stays that way. Because I am very fat-averse 😂
I liked the flavours of this cocktail. The well-balanced tartness & sweetness of the applejack was lovely. On top of this, the layered fragrance of the lime kaffir & sweet vermouth sous vide pandan leaves were somewhat comforting.
The Sun Also Rises #1926, with very addictive snacks
Before my drink even arrived, I was served a glass of cold water that was regularly topped up throughout my evening. As a perpetual thirsty hippo, I appreciated this so much. & the tidbits, dare I say, are very addictive.
I intended to have just 1 drink, but was impressed by my 1st one that I had to order another. I chose the Green Hills of Africa #1935, which has a base of rosemary-infused pisco. A refreshing turmeric & tamarind cocktail, it had citrus notes as well, which I thought was a great drink to end my night with.
Green Hills of Africa #1935
I am excited to return to try the rest of their cocktail menu. Good cocktails are really growing on me lately, especially those with unique flavours which look & taste like much research, thought & effort have been put into them.
All cocktails on the menu at The Old Man are $17+.
💳 Accepts credit cards 🌬 Air-conditioned seats only 🙋🏻♀️ Service charge applicable 🚫 No GST 💦 Water is not chargeable 🍍 Look for the pineapple lamp – under which that’s the entrance!
Bui Bui Eats 