While Korea isn’t exactly known for her coffee, our caffeine-loving population would certainly welcome an additional option to get a quick pick-me-up!

The ordering process is very much like your typical Starbucks and Coffee Bean, although prices are slightly cheaper.

Over here, they give you a disc-shaped pager that vibrates once your coffee is ready to be collected.

Cappuccino
SGD5.20

The cappuccino is pretty decent, with a nice, creamy froth that rides like silk on top of it. I like it unsweetened. Does anyone else drink cappuccino without sugar?

There is also some attempt at coffee art which, even if not perfect, is always appreciated.

Colorful cheery murals adorn the walls.

Getting a cuppa here is basically a fuss-free process. Next time round I’ll probably get some of that toasted pretzel to go along!

Have Your Say!

Have you visited Tom N Toms Coffee yet? Would you welcome new coffee chains or do you find that there are more than enough here already? Share with us below!

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, coffee, Far East Plaza, Korean, poll, Tanjong Pagar, Vivocity

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tom-n-toms-coffee/ | 9 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

Now, I am by no means a coffee connoisseur, although I do know a good coffee when I taste one. But it doesn’t take a connoisseur to appreciate coffee art, does it? And that’s exactly what you will get at Oriole Cafe & Bar, a new lifestyle café at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites next to 313@Somerset. This is opened by Keith Low, the same guy behind Whitebait & Kale and the European restaurant, Aerin’s at Raffles City.

Cappuccino
SGD5++

You can get great tasting coffee at many places, but great looking coffee art? Not many. Over here, the coffee art here is done by award-winning baristas.

If you do get the opportunity, do try to catch the baristas in action. I’m sure watching the way they transform milk into silky works of art would be an eye opener!

By itself, the cappuccino tastes pretty good. No need for extra sugar!

Of course, you will not be filled by just drinking coffee alone.

Philly steak & cheese
SGD15++

Get quick bites like the Philly cheesesteak, which is interestingly served with a side of potato chips and greens.

The baguette is filled with pieces of succulent steak, onion, peppers…

… and loads of melted Swiss cheese! This sandwich is literally packed with flavor!

Spaghetti prawns
SGD15++

The prawn spaghetti comes with some sautéed prawns, rocket leaves and tomatoes. Unlike most aglio olio that tend to be milder in taste, this one is chock-full with flavor! Unfortunately, instead of being al dente, the spaghetti is too firm and undercooked.

Have Your Say!

Apart from Oriole, are there any other cafés that offer coffee art? Share with us below!

Oriole Cafe & Bar
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites (next to 313@Somerset)
96 Somerset Road #01-01
Singapore 238163
(65) 6238 8348 | Website
Service:

Bus services: 7, 14, 16, 36, 65, 77, 106, 111, 123, 124, 128, 143, 14E, 162, 167, 171, 174, 175, 190, 502, 700, NR1, NR2, NR3, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8, 162M, 174E, 502A, 502B, 700A
Nearest MRT: Somerset

Opening hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Sat), 10:30am – 11pm (Sun)

Posted by Veron in Food category | American, café, coffee, Somerset, Western

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/oriole-cafe/ | 25 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

The up-and-coming C.Nai Hong Kong Cafe offer a few very attractive perks that help differentiate itself from the rest:

• Live band that plays Mandarin pop songs
• Live telecast of English football
• No service charges

Sound good? We think so, too! East Coast Park is fast becoming our favorite place to unwind (who doesn’t like the sun, the sand and the sea?) so we check out their outlet at Marine Cove. The restaurant is huge! Getting a table here poses no problem at all even during the evening chow hours.

Like Eighteen Chefs, making an order is fuss-free by means of jotting down the item numbers on the order sheet.

Fried carrot cake with XO sauce
SGD5.50+

The fried carrot cake looks and sounds super tempting on paper, especially when words like “secret recipe” and “XO sauce” are thrown in the mix. Gimmicky, but it works.

The carrot cake arrives as a stack of neatly cut cubes speckled with chili pepper flakes. Contrary to most renditions of this dish that leave you feeling heavy and stuffed, this one is really light and tasty! Yup, this simple little snack has instantly won us over.

C.Nai Gold Medal Macau baked rice/spaghetti
SGD13.80+

For the baked pasta dishes, you can choose between spaghetti or rice. Ignoring its cheesy name, I go for the 3-in-1 baked spaghetti, which comprises (clockwise from top left):

- Pork chop with tomato sauce
- Seafood with cream mushroom sauce
- Portuguese chicken chop

I love baked pasta, but to be brutally honest, this is nowhere near as delicious as it sounds. The best part is the pork chop, whereas the seafood is too chewy and the chicken chop is bland. Let’s just say I’ve had better Portuguese chicken. It does come with a lot of cheese, which is great.

Then of course, there’s the mandatory Hong Kong-style milk tea for washing everything down.

“Si Mud” tea
SGD2.30+

This isn’t any regular milk tea, but one that is made by specially filtering tealeaves through a pantyhose or stocking! Before anyone goes “ew!”, the filter merely resembles a stocking and gives a tea a smoother texture. It’s the same way with which Ya Kun makes their coffee with a sock. That doesn’t sound so bad now, is it?

Sure enough, the tea is more thinned down, but no less fragrant, with a wonderful milky taste.

Iced milk tea float
SGD3.90+

For something more indulgent, go for the milk tea float with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Have Your Say!

Are you a fan of these casual Hong Kong cafés or do you prefer the more traditional dim sum teahouses? Which is your favorite? Share with us below!

2 Restaurants

Currently there are two branches, both in the East Coast area, with one opening soon at Far East Plaza.

C.Nai Hong Kong Cafe Xpress
Marine Cove
1000 East Coast Parkway
Singapore 449876
(65) 6444 0123 | Website
Service:

Bus services: 13, 16, 196, 401
Nearest MRT: Eunos

Opening hours: 11:30am – 12midnight (Sun-Thur), 11:30am – 3am (Fri & Sat)

C.Nai Hong Kong Cafe
378/380 East Coast Road (opposite Caltex petrol station)
Singapore 428985
(65) 6440 3808 / (65) 6440 0083 | Website | Menu
Service:

Bus services: 10, 12, 14, 15, 32, 40, 10E, 14E
Nearest MRT: Eunos

Opening hours: 6pm – 3 am (Mon-Fri), 5pm – 3am (Sat, Sun & PH)

Opening soon

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, Chinese, East Coast Park, Hong Kong, live football, live music, Macanese

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/c-nai-hong-kong-cafe/ | 15 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

(Note: If the photographs below look somewhat ‘different’, that’s because I was playing around with the vintage lomo effect.)

I am referring to The Cookie Museum, of course. This place was formerly known as The V Tea Room, where V probably stood for Victorian. Each time I walk past this tea lounge at the Esplanade, I can’t help but slow down for a better look. The quaint Victorian theme is so beautiful it really takes your breath away! Throw in the motif wallpaper, gold-rimmed mirrors and largely pink decor, this is one place that is perfect for an afternoon tea session with the girlfriends.

Another place that boasts similarly gorgeous decor is Tea Cosy by Eclectic Attic.

Here, you sit on plush chairs with ornate carvings and feel like royalty.

Obviously, the namesake cookies are a huge draw. Have you ever come across unconventional flavors like Laksa, Nasi Lemak, Hainanese chicken rice, masala and tom yam crab?

Photo by lion kim ball

Laksa cookies
SGD38-45 for a 500-gram tin

We sample the Laksa-flavored cookies, and my, they taste just like the real thing! This is the first time we have tried cookies that are actually spicy. It may seem a little weird at first, but I can get used to the taste.

Has anyone attempted baking these unique Singapore-flavored cookies? Would adding coconut milk, shrimp paste and a dash of sambal chili conjure up Laksa-flavored cookies? If you have done this, please share your recipe with us!

Aside from the cookies, there is a large menu just for the tea alone. The staff would roll the tea cart right to your table and delicately serve the teapot, sugar, etc.

You can see how the tea is being served here. It’s a rather long process so the video cuts off before the tea has been poured! But you get the picture.

I just love, love, LOVE that dainty floral teacup! I wonder where we can buy something similar for our homes?

Darjeeling Margaret’s Hope
SGD14.90++

In the past, they would refill the teapot with hot water, so you could practically drink the tea forever! But nowadays they have stopped doing it. Each teapot fills about 2 cups of tea.

If this isn’t your cup of tea, Max Brenner next door serves up wonderful hot chocolate, too! Speaking of which…

Have Your Say!

Is the Cookie Museum the best place to enjoy tea and cookies, or do you know of any other place? Share with us below!

The Cookie Museum (formerly V Tea Room)
Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue #01-02/04
Singapore 039802
(65) 6333 1965 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon – Thur: 12noon – 10:30pm
Fri & Sat: 12noon- 11:30pm
Sun: 12noon – 9pm

Posted by Veron in Food category | bakery, café, English, Esplanade, poll, tea

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/the-cookie-museum/ | 14 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

Boulangerie at Festive Hotel is a patisserie located at the lobby. It is instantly recognisable by the distinct colorful lanterns hanging from the tall ceiling.

Over here, you can get quick bites and small desserts including French pastries such as macarons, sandwiches and gelati. The range is small, but fortunately we have already had a bellyful of food and desserts (with bird’s nest!) from The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel.

Satin
SGD6.40++

We sample the pretty pastry with an equally pretty name, “Satin”. This is some sort of a coconut crumble, heaped with freshly shredded pineapple and flavored with lime. The sour tang from the fruit complements the coconuty sweetness nicely.

Choco-Nut-Tarte
SGD4.80++

Chocolate fans can indulge in the Choco-Nut-Tarte, a simple milk chocolate tart with a crunchy hazelnut base. The chocolate is rich, creamy and smooth. Although, our favorite when it comes to chocolate is still Nama chocolate.

Gelato
SGD2.20++

The gelato scoop comes in a small bowl. Not much to the presentation here. We have the tiramisu flavor which is nice but not particularly memorable.

When it comes to paying the bill, something bizarre happens here…

Bizarre Incident #1: Instead of the waitress bringing us the check, everyone has to queue at the counter to make payment. That’s despite the fact that there’s a 10% service charge here.

Bizarre Incident #2: The waitress at the counter amusingly gets us to recite to her what we have ordered, while she keys it into the cash register at the same time. Suppose someone were to “accidentally” miss an item, he basically gets it for free!

Bizarre Incident #3: Their one-price-for-all-beverages policy. Our regular black coffee costs $6++. The guy before us in the line pays $6++ for his tall glass of chocolate cookie iced latte and cappucino, too. Needless to say, we feel kinda cheated, especially since there isn’t any kind of menu that we can peruse before ordering.

This is also a good example of when the 10% service charge should not be mandatory. What do you think?

Have Your Say!

Now, the Resorts World at Sentosa is still new and I’m pretty sure all the Bizarre Incidents won’t be here to stay. If you have visited Boulangerie, please drop a note below. We’re curious to know if things have changed!

Boulangerie
Resorts World Sentosa
Festive Hotel, Level 2
Service:
Website

Opening hours:
10:00am – 6:00pm (Mon – Fri)
8:30am – 6:00pm (Sat, Sun, PH)
8:30am – 10:00am (Continental Breakfast – Sat, Sun, PH)

Resorts World at Sentosa

Check out what you can expect at the rest of Resorts World at Sentosa. Plus, a review of The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel.

Posted by Veron in Food category | bakery, café, dessert, French, Sentosa

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/resorts-world-sentosa-boulangerie-cafe/ | 16 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

Perfect Ten high tea set
SGD13.80++

What really impresses is how beautifully everything is presented. From the sandwich with bak kwa (sliced porkchicken) to the chocolate-dipped strawberries (sprinkled with chocolate rice), every morsel simply looks so dainty! As a chocolate fan, my favorite is easily the little chocolate mousse cake. Rich and velvety smooth chocolate. Yum!

Have you seen the flyer for this promotion? What you see is really what you’ll get. Heck, even the placement of the individual items is accurate to the T!

The canapé comprises a plump juicy prawn, a slice of sweet mango, tomato and lettuce. Very colorful and totally yummy!

The prettiest of them all has to be pink rose-scented macaron, with strawberry slices doused in whipped cream. Ooh la la!

If you love desserts, you definitely want to check this out. Better still, bring along a friend or a partner. Everything in the set, except for the drink, comes in twos. Perfect for sharing!

Valid from 2-6pm daily. Promotion ends February 28, 2010.

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, high tea, promotion

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-high-tea/ | 18 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

throughout the month of July, they are selling their macarons at just $0.90 each! If you’ve yet to try out this cute French pastry, this is the perfect opportunity! With over a dozen flavors, there’s something for everybody.

Wait, that’s not all. They have also slashed the prices for some of their cakes by more than half!

1. Chocolate Amer (flourless chocolate sponge layered with bitter chocolate mousse, serves 6-10)
2. Cookies & cream cheesecake (studded with cookie crumble and sprinkled with crushed cookie bits, serves 8-10)
3. New York cheesecake (cream cheese coated with a tangy strawberry glaze, serves 8-10)

Imagine getting a whole cookies and cream cheesecake for less than $20! That’s a massive discount!

If you’re celebrating a loved one’s birthday this month, why not get him or her an affordable Bakerzin cake?

Posted by Veron in Food category | bakery, café, cake, promotion

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/bakerzin-cake/ | 3 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

For me, any food that doesn’t taste good just isn’t worth having. satay, grilled stingray, or a good curry. These are the kind of food that would keep me happy for a long time, but they are also undeniably sinful. Are scrumptious food always this unhealthful?

That brings me to the point of this post. Although it may be rare (to me anyway), healthful food CAN taste wonderful, too. And I’ve decided that each time I come across something that fits the bill I would highlight it here, along with its health benefits!

Here are a couple of picks from the pasta menu at tcc, starting with my personal favorite, the mentaiko (spicy cod roe) pasta. Salmon lovers, this one’s for you.

Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) spaghetti with salmon tataki
SGD19++

When it comes to salmon the tcc chefs never go wrong. Just look at those huge slices! I love how the pinks, the yellows and the greens work together to form one colorful and appealing dish.

The fish has been quickly seared on the sides so the center is still quite raw and pinkish. It’s melt-in-your-mouth tender and velvety smooth! Served with a sunny side up.

The spaghetti is coated with mentaiko. Yummy yummy. According to the food trivia printed on the menu, cod roe is rich in zinc, which is essential to our sense of taste, smell and sight. It aids in wound-healing, too!

Health benefits aside, this pasta is super savory as well. You know when you eat something so delicious, you just don’t wanna stop? That’s exactly how I felt as I gobbled down the pasta, pausing only a couple of times to catch my breath. Yes, it’s that good. I’m not ashamed to admit that I also lapped up all the remaining sauce. *slurp* wouldn’t want any of it to go to waste!

Seafood Aglio Olio
SGD18.80++

Being one of the three key pasta sauces along with cream sauce and tomato sauce, aglio olio is a popular choice amongst pasta fans. aglio is garlic and olio is olive.

As such, eating seafood aglio olio also means you are reaping the health benefits from the two spices. Olive oil, in particular, is rich in potent antioxidants that promote heart health and reduce cancer risks.

Cooked al dente, the spaghetti is well-tossed with minced garlic and red hot chili pepper flakes. It’s too bad they don’t put in enough ingredients. The lone 3 prawns and 1 scallop, while nice and plump, aren’t exactly what you’d call an ample serving.

As you can see, healthy eating can be enjoyable! Here’s another place where you can feast on delectable, guilt-free food!

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, healthy, pasta, Western

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-pasta/ | 13 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

During this month of may, aroma at hotel intercontinental Singapore is giving away freshly baked croissants and regular coffee all day long. All you have to do is print out this mailer and present it at the counter. Each person is limited to one croissant and one coffee, of course.

Click to enlarge

I have never been to aroma before, but any place that offers free meals scores brownie points in my books. If you have taken advantage of this promo, let us know if the coffee’s any good.

Just don’t forget to print out and bring along this mailer!

Posted by Veron in Food category | Bugis, café, promotion

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/aroma-intercontinental-singapore/ | 2 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

One type of coffee that I find particularly intriguing is the Vietnamese Ca Phe Phin (drip coffee). The coffee cup comes with a stainless metal drip filter on top that allows the coffee to slowly trickle through the press and into the cup.

The Trung Nguyen Coffee chain from Vietnam opened an outlet at Liang Court in recent months. I first encountered this café during my undergrad days, when they had an outlet in the National University of Singapore. It is no longer there today, but I think they have another outlet at Changi Airport Terminal One.

Various kinds of traditional coffee are available here, along with helpful descriptions to aid you in selecting your brew. We went for the “Thoughts” coffee, which is described as having an “elegant aroma” and “bitter sweet”, as well as the “Fiscover” coffee, which is “light and flavorful”.

The coffee is a deep shade of brown. Patience is required as it would take some time to slowly drip, drip, drip into the cup (which would contain condensed milk if that’s the one you opt for). I consider that a good sign, really. I have visited a few other Vietnamese cafés where the coffee was so thin and mild, all of it trickled smoothly into the cup in no time.

Traditional Vietnamese coffee (hot/iced)
SGD3.20 – $5.90 (without milk), $4.20 – $6.90 (with milk)

Initially I was lamenting the fact that the coffee only filled half the cup. But after taking a sip, I realised that a full cup would probably induce a sore throat. The coffee is *really* rich and robust, and this even applies to the one that is described as “light”. I have never been to Vietnam, but some people say that the coffee there is even richer than this!

So caffeine aficionados would totally love this; the aromatic and full-bodied coffee gives a real kick. Casual coffee drinkers might find it too strong though.

Perhaps to cater to the Starbucks crowd, ice blended drinks and cappuccinos are offered on the menu too. Similarly, you would place your order at the counter and wait to collect your drinks. There are some seats by the counter, and if you venture across the aisle there is an even larger seating area available.

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, Clarke Quay, coffee, Liang Court, Vietnamese

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/trung-nguyen-coffee/ | 19 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

Here, I’ll give you a hint: they come in a plethora of irresistible colors and flavors!

Okay, just one last clue. They are French!

If macaron is the first thing that pops in your mind, my, you must have a sweet tooth!

When I first laid my eyes on the macarons at Bakerzin, I fell in love with these sweet pastries. Just toss in a cup of joe and you’re all set for a delightful teatime snack!

Macarons (not to be confused with macaroon or macaroni) are made with egg white, almond powder and icing sugar, with creamy butter cream and ganache.

Macarons (assorted flavors)
$1.60 $1 each for February ’09

On first impression, I would have thought that the green one is matcha (green tea), but it’s actually pistachio with white chocolate! The pretty one with speckles of pink is “scarlet”, a mixture of vanilla and strawberry. It’s heavenly! But my favorites are, hands down, the chocolate ones.

The bakers here really know their chocolate. You get your chocolate macarons with a touch of lemon, brandied cherry, whiskey, coffee butter cream and even banana! The chocolate ones are really the best of the lot.

After whetting your appetite, I feel it’s only right to share with you this: Bakerzin has slashed the price of these babies from $1.60 to a dollar each. The promotion is valid only in the month of February. So hurry!

(last month, they slashed the price of their phenomenal warm chocolate cake to $4.80. I’m looking forward to another great promotion next month!)

Posted by Veron in Food category | bakery, café, French, pastry, promotion

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/bakerzin-macaron/ | 18 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

This Christmas, they have rolled out yet another two beverage specials — snowy choco and eggnog desire. I have to admit, I ordered the latter mainly due to its pretty presentation.

Look, how cute! I heart the chocolate tree, the gold star, the red and green sprinkles, and the little snowflakes! Picture perfect!

Eggnog Desire
SGD13.80++

Available only in the month of December 2008

This frothy eggnog comes with a twist — it has liquor in it! (I should probably add an alcoholic icon above.) what’s an even bigger twist is that it tastes more like liqueur coffee than eggnog! Anyone knows where I can find a decent eggnog to drink at Christmas (short of making it myself)?

On paper, the chocolatey-and-almond snowy choco would appeal to me more. But the alcoholic eggnog works wonders in warming me up during the cold December weather. Plus, the snowy choco looks quite similar to last Christmas’ berry oreo and I really wanted something different!

So what are you waiting for? Have a Christmas eggnog at your nearest tcc now!

Posted by Veron in Food, Holidays category | café, Christmas tree, holiday food, Western

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-eggnog/ | 7 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

For many coffee lovers, McCafé is probably not within your preferred list of coffee joints. After all, McDonald’s is known more for the fast food. When it comes to coffee and coffee alone, there are certainly many larger and more established café chains.

But here’s one thing about McCafé: they always try. A nice cup of coffee can be perfected by a touch of art. Look how prettily they have done up my mochaccino!

Mochaccino
SGD3.70, SGD4.10 or SGD4.50 for small, medium or large

At McCafé, each cup of coffee is adorned with beautiful art that totally outclasses the plainly frothed coffee at other cafés. In fact, I don’t recall having seen any barista at any of the better known cafés whipping up such pretty coffee art. The only other place I can think of is Bakerzin when they drew me a pretty heart in my mocha — and they’re not even a coffee joint!

That’s not all. There are even nifty little surprises as you finish more and more of your drink.

“Coffee + Armchair = Happy me!”

Cute symbols that form equations can be seen on the interior of the cup. The equations differ from cup to cup too!

And that’s a smiley created from cocoa powder! This is the cup of mochaccino from the first time I ever visited a McCafé outlet. That was back in 2003, when the first McCafé outlet in Singapore opened at Great World City. Even back then, they had already taken steps to dress up their coffee for customers.

I love it when restaurants go that extra mile (just as I condemn restaurants that attempt to make a quick buck out of their customers).

On top of that, the coffee here costs a lot less than other cafés while not compromising on the taste (at least for the mocha). Having little touches of detail like this may not seem significant, but this is what would distinguish one coffee joint out of the sea of many. It sure has created a lasting impression in me.

Have Your Say!

Have you witnessed any other forms of coffee art lately? Share with us below!

McCafé
List of outlets | Website

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, coffee, Western

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/mccafe/ | 13 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

My year-long love affair with Old Town is why when an outlet opened at Playground @ Big Splash in East Coast Park, I immediately added it to my list of must-visit places. Never mind the fact that I was already drinking the coffee both at home and at work everyday. I still felt an urgent need to check out the place!

Old Town originated from the town of Ipoh in 1958. While they are the biggest kopitiam (coffee shop) chain in Malaysia today with 82 outlets, this East Coast Park outlet marks only their first foray into Singapore.

And I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last.

The layout of the place looks pretty similar to most of the kopitiam chains that have sprung up here in recent years. There are the usual marble tables and wooden chairs, as well as coffee served in traditional cups with the all-too-familiar green designs on a white surface.

A cosy lounge-like area and a few six-person booth seats separate this from the rest of the kopitiams, creating the slight ambience of a Western café. Having a sofa here may seem rather odd initially, but I think most patrons would welcome the option.

An aged image of a busy street scene covers one side of the wall. This is the same photo featured in their logo. For all the hundreds of Old Town coffee sachets I have had, I had never realised that the logo contains a street scene!

Besides the usual coffee and kaya (creamy coconut jam) toast, some other items you would find on the menu include chicken rendang (a recommended dish which I heard is superb), curry chicken rice, ice cream toast, as well as the rather intriguing “ice fire polo bun” and “coffee lava”.

But with our stomachs still working hard on what we had from our previous meal, we could only manage to down a few cups of coffee. That’s okay — it’s what we were there for anyway!

Update: On a follow-up visit, we ordered the chicken rendang, which at SGD7.90++, isn’t exactly cheap for the skimpy portion you get. When we asked for an extra spoonful of chili sauce, the staff (and their manager) told us it would cost SGD0.50 more.

To add salt to the wound, there is that mandatory 10% service charge here even though we had to queue at the counter to make our payment when we patronised the Toa Payoh Hub outlet on two separate occasions.

And oh, they don’t provide water too. After the subsequent disappointing experiences at Old Town, we have decided to never come back to this place.

Old Town White Coffee
SGD1.60+

The coffee comes with a foamy layer on top, which kind of resembles coffee tarik. It tastes a little different from the classic instant coffee that I’m accustomed to, but it is still as rich and fragrant. Old town fans would love this just the same.

The blend of specially roasted liberica, Arabica and robusta coffee beans with small amounts of caramel is what contributes to the distinct taste and flavor of this underrated (in Singapore anyway) brew. More coffee lovers need to sample it!

After savoring the coffee, enamored patrons can also purchase it in-store and make their own Old Town coffee at home. (Hint: The 3-in-1′s can also be found at most supermarkets.)

Photo by Old Town White Coffee

Meanwhile, do excuse me while I go make a hot cup of Old Town white coffee!

Old Town White Coffee
Various outlets
Website
Service:

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, coffee, toast

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/old-town-white-coffee/ | 29 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

I can still vividly remember the richness of their hot chocolate from my first visit late last year. The chocolate is so thick and rich, a (hug) mug of it is practically enough to curb all chocolate cravings for a week.

But this time round, we got to sample something even better from their desserts menu. This particular dessert is filled with all things nice and good, and I feel it warrants a whole blog post of its own!

It’s the Melting Marshmallow Crêpe!

Melting Marshmallow Crêpe
SGD10++

I’m not a huge fan of crêpes in general, but with a name as delicious-sounding as that, who can possibly say no right? With all the chocolate sauce drizzled generously over the crêpe, the whole dish just looks so pretty, delectable and lovely! It was definitely love at first sight.

Plus, it has everything a girl would love…

Strawberries, check.

Chocolate sauce, check.

Vanilla ice cream, check.

Melted marshmallow, check, with extra, extra brownie points!

Look, there are even gummy bears! That is so adorable! I can just imagine the chef arranging those colorful bears on the side of the plate with glee. With so many different goodies spread out on one plate, it’s hard not to spend minutes gushing over it.

For me personally, the warm melted marshmallow is the best part. This gooey goodness forms the entire filling for the thin French crêpe. Wait, I think there might have been melted white chocolate in it too. I love the way it stretches on the fork, kind of like cheese on a pizza slice! And I swear it tastes even better than it looks.

The sides of vanilla ice cream and strawberries are just the right complements. If you find that you have had too much chocolate (if there even is such a thing as too much chocolate), then the melting marshmallow crêpe really is the perfect counterbalance for you.

Max Brenner
Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue #01-06/08
Singapore 039802
(65) 6235 9556 | Website
Service:

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, chocolate, dessert, Esplanade

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/max-brenner-dessert/ | 7 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

Each month, they concoct new items that are not found in their regular food and drinks menus. This being the month of Christmas, they have rolled out a series of Christmas specials!

I’m gonna skip right to the Christmas beverages since I fell in love with these at first sight — they totally had me at those colorful stars!

Whether it’s chocolate or coffee, I tend to like it hot. This time round I decided to bend the rule a little and try out the icy berry oreo. (if you like it irish, you can go for the frosty bailey — a chocolate frappé with a touch of bailey’s and rum.)

Berry Oreo
SGD7.50++

Available only in the month of December 2007

The berry oreo is quite literally a combination of raspberry and oreo. On paper it sure looks like a rather odd match. But the fruitiness is very refreshing, and at the same time you get the deliciously sweet taste of oreo. It doesn’t taste vile or funny like I thought it might. Phew!

I really admire the way they have creatively made this drink both look and taste Christmasy. Tucked into the whipped cream is a slim piece of chocolate. It has been stenciled into the shape of a Christmas tree and even has an edible shiny gold star on top! Detail, people, detail. (for the frosty bailey, it is a chocolate snowman instead.)

Little colorful stars have either been sprinkled onto the whipped cream or mixed within the drink. These are just plain cute and make drinking a fun affair! Oh, they are mint-flavored too.

Deep down within, I’m still a traditional coffee kind of girl, preferring the likes of Ya Kun and toast box. The aroma from a cup of freshly made traditional coffee just perks me up immediately. But every now and then I do enjoy a refreshing change, especially if it’s one of the creative coffee concoctions at tcc.

Have a berry merry Christmas everyone!

Posted by Veron in Food, Holidays category | café, holiday food, Western

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-christmas/ | 10 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

Chocolate ecstasy.

While we’re on strict dieting regimes, we still attempt sneaking in that piece of caloric chocolate. Even as we go out on shopping sprees, we may find ourselves snacking from the chocolate stash we have in our bags, relishing the guilty pleasures as the chocolate butter melts on our tongue.

Photo by marlonius

Up for a chocolate rendezvous? Have it all at Max Brenner the chocolate bar. Chocoholics would be totally spoiled for choice!

So just who exactly is Max Brenner? It is actually a combination of the two owners’ names, Max Fichtman and Oded Brenner. The latter is bald, hence the slogan “Chocolate by the Bald Man”.

Upon entering the place, brace yourself as the first whiffs of chocolate aroma penetrate your nostrils — it’s chocolate wonderland! No prizes for guessing what the color theme here is. Shades of chocolate brown, of course! I would expect nothing less.

Photo by angieteo

I especially enjoy checking out the various chocolate products displayed on the wooden shelves. Those on the top shelf grab my attention the most. They are brown paper bags containing cacao! Cute!

First-time visitors may be slightly overwhelmed by the substantial menu of chocolate delights — there are just too many to choose from! A must-have is something from the hot chocolate section. Here they call it “Chocolat”, the cappuccino of chocolate. It is served in a Hug Mug!

The Hug Mug – a specially designed mug for the chocolate drinking ceremony. The mug is shaped specially for hugging in both hands so that it creates the ultimate drinking experience of coziness, warmth and fragrance.

Whoa! That cute story got to me immediately. I wasted no time in ordering myself a Chocolat — the Venezuela milk chocolate drink.

Photo by Harrier

Venezuela Milk Chocolate
SGD5.90++

I was supposed to cradle it in my hands. But boy, was the hot chocolate hot! Of course, it was also deliciously good. I was surprised at how thick and chocolaty it was; I could practically see the frothy chocolate bubbling!

Love, love, love that mug too. It made the chocolate drinking ceremony all snug and warm and cosy :) “hug me,” it seems to be saying. I think I’ll hug it for Christmas!

Espresso and Milk Chocolate Truffle Frappé
SGD8.90++

Another adorable cup they have is the Alice Cup, used for serving Choctails, a.k.a. frozen chocolate frappés. If you guess that’s Alice as in “Alice in Wonderland”, you are right!

She found a little bottle on it (‘which certainly was not here before,’ said Alice), and round its neck a paper label, with the words ‘drink me’ beautifully printed on it in large letters. Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavor of cherry-tart, custard, pineapple, roast turkey, toffee and hot buttered toast), she very soon finished it off.

Whoa! The Choctail was even thicker and richer than the Chocolat; it’s almost like drinking molten chocolate! The vanilla ice cream was definitely necessary in toning down the thick chocolate.

So tell me, are you ready for your next chocolate indulgence? Whether you like it dark, milk or white, Max Brenner is definitely a choice pick chocolatier. Also check out their desserts.

Max Brenner
Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue #01-06/08
Singapore 039802
(65) 6235 9556 | Website
Service:

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, chocolate, dessert, Esplanade

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/max-brenner/ | 14 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

The reason that keeps me going there is that the team of chefs serve up a mean seafood pasta. And let’s not forget the oh-so-sinful-and-yummilicious chocolate lava cake too.

But with this new 2008 menu, I’ve found a third good reason…

Assam Prawns with Linguini
SGD14.80++

…assam prawns!

The assam prawn dishes are newcomers to the menu, falling under the brand new category “just like home”, which is dedicated to local flavors. Bakerzin owner and chef daniel tay had been taught by his Dad how to prepare the delicious assam prawns.

For those with a weakness for spicy food, you would totally love this. I tell ya, these juicy prawns go so well with the thick and sweet spicy gravy, they’re practically exploding with flavor. It’s mouthwatering and lip-smackingly good!

Just when I thought they can’t possibly do any better than their 5-star seafood pasta, they whip up this new pasta that totally surpasses my expectations! Like the seafood pasta, a generous serving of prawns is tossed in too.

Besides the east-meets-west fusion of assam prawns with linguini, you can also choose to have it with Japanese rice. I might ask for spaghetti next time though; I feel spaghetti might just go better than linguini.

update: I tried this with spaghetti a few days later and guess what? I did like it better than the linguini!

Oh, for the seafood pasta die-hard fans, this old favorite is still on the new menu. They wouldn’t dare take it away would they? Personally I’m just thrilled to have another excellent option for my next visit!

Aglio Olio Spaghetti
SGD8.80++

Another old favorite that remains is the traditionalist pasta dish, aglio olio spaghetti, sautéed with olive oil, garlic, chili padi and parsley. While it was tasty, we did find it too dry for our liking. I sure hope it isn’t always dry like that, especially since this place doesn’t serve water. That’s my only pet peeve with Bakerzin. (a rather major one though.)

But who needs aglio olio when you already have two awesome tried-and-tasted pasta dishes right? Wow, my entire mouth just filled up with saliva. Can’t wait for my next visit!

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, pasta, Western

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/bakerzin-2008/ | 10 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

The answer is no. There would simply be too many pictures to take and too many posts to write! The rule of thumb I follow to decide if the place is worth blogging about is that it must be either of the following:

• nice place with good food, for e.g.: graze, aerin’s or Wild Rocket
• cheap and good, for e.g.: Gu Zao Ren, rong guang BBQ seafood or riverside Indonesia BBQ
• has an interesting and unique concept, for e.g.: lagnaa, Eclectic Attic or sho-u
• so bad that I feel you guys must be warned! For e.g.: Mushroom Pot or mussel guys

And in my opinion, the chocolate lava cake at délifrance falls under the classification of being “so bad that I feel you guys must be warned”!

Fondant de Chocolat Chaud
SGD6.95++

First of all, chocolate lava cake or fondant is my most favorite dessert. (okay, it’s either this or chocolate mousse… I can’t decide!) it should be moist and chocolatey, with a thick and viscous chocolate lava at its core. Something like this one at bakerzin:

Now compare it with délifrance’s…

I mean, what the heck is that? It just looks all wrong! In fact, it even looks a little dirty to me.

I wouldn’t have minded the way it looked if it tasted good. But no, the chocolate cake was dry and crumbly, like stale cake! The chocolate lava was rather watered down and tasted a little funky.

Actually, it looked like one of those instant lava cakes that you can find at a supermarket. You know, the kind that you pop into the microwave oven and eat afterwards.

Argh! To think I had thought that I could enjoy my favorite dessert all the time since there’s a délifrance café AND a bistro délifrance right at my workplace! But now it looks like I’m gonna give it a miss — forever!

Bistro Délifrance ( Halal certified)
Toa Payoh Community Library
6 Toa Payoh Central Singapore 319191 [map]
(65) 6354 9253
Service:
www.delifrance.com.sg

I’m always on the hunt for good chocolate lava cake. The ones I’ve had so far come from the following places:

» tcc
» the olive ristorante
» white dog café
» bakerzin
» Wild Rocket at mount emily

Next on my prowl list (in no order of preference):

» abof restaurant and tea lounge at Millenia Walk
» corduroy & finch along Bukit timah road
» dan ryan’s chicago grill at Tanglin place
» esmirada at chijmes
» the chocolate factory at mohamed sultan road

If anyone’s game to hunt for good chocolate lava cake with me, let me know!

Posted by Veron in Food category | café, Halal, lava cake, Toa Payoh, Western

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/bistro-delifrance-questionable-lava-cake/ | 10 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette

I have been encouraged to go for the desserts too, more specifically their bestselling warm chocolate cake. Mind you, this ain’t just any regular ol’ chocolate cake. This is the kind that takes the chef some time to serve because it has to be prepared and warmed up just precisely, with molten chocolate lava oozing out of its warm gooey nucleus.

Warm Chocolate Cake
SGD9.80++

I absolutely love what Bakerzin has done with it! In fact, I’ve had many different renditions of this decadent dessert at various places in recent months.

There’s white dog café’s chocolate lava cake:

Tcc’s dark devotion:

All were pretty good, but Bakerzin’s warm chocolate cake takes the top spot!

It is served at just the right temperature (warm chocolate lava complements the cold vanilla ice cream), the perfect quantity (too much chocolate can get too rich, too little too unsatisfying), and with strawberries and syrup (so that the chocolate doesn’t get too cloying after a while).

I think Bakerzin has made the perfect warm chocolate cake. Does anyone have any other recommendation for this sinful dessert? I’m game to try it!

April 10, 2007: following this review, I have been given a privilege card from Bakerzin as a token of appreciation!

Posted by Veron in Food category | bakery, café, dessert, lava cake, Western

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/bakerzin-chocolate/ | 26 comments

You are reading the original content of Sparklette.
Republishing of content, photographs, design or RSS feed, whether in part or in full, is strictly not allowed.

© 2003-2010 Sparklette