Sparklette Magazine » coffee

Papa Palheta Specialty Coffee – No menu, no prices. Tip as you please.

Veron Ang — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 07:20:58 +0000

Sometime back we had a discussion on whether a tipping system in Singapore is feasible. It seems that at least one café here has found a way to make it work.

Papa Palheta is a small coffee retail boutique located off Bukit Timah Road. Word has it that this place roasts and serves the best coffee in Singapore!

To get to Papa Palheta, you would first need to find your way to Hooper Road (look out for that Shell petrol kiosk). True to the shop’s promise to “run the best coffee shop and not the biggest coffee shop”, you will not see a prominent store front. Instead, try to spot a nondescript brown sign at the back of the alley.

This, my friends, is the small entrance to this coffee hideout.

The seats at Papa Palheta are very limited. There are few tables and bar counter seating indoors, though on days with good weather, you would find that patrons prefer lingering in the alfresco area.

Another unique thing about this place is that there is no menu and prices. Simply let the barista know what type of coffee you want, then pay as you please to the tip jar.

Cappuccino
Tip as you please

I’m no coffee snob or connoisseur, but I certainly prefer the coffee here to more commercialised places like Starbucks and tcc. The beverage is intense and full-bodied. So far Papa Palheta is the only place where I would drink coffee as it is, with no sugar added. The little extra bit of coffee art is simply icing on the cake.

Apart from sipping on coffee, you can also have your pick from the range of coffee accessories like grinders and various home brewing equipment. Ever wanted to get your hands dirty at making coffee? This is the place to get the goods.

An additional perk for coffee drinkers visiting Papa Palheta is the availability of free parking here all day, everyday. Certainly a nice place to chill out with good company or an interesting book on a sunny afternoon.

Have Your Say!

Where can you enjoy the best coffee in Singapore? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

Papa Palheta
140 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 229840
Tel: +65 9799 0420 | Website

Opening hours:
Tue to Fri: 9am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 7:30pm
Closed on Mondays

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Starbucks “The Bank” Concept Store in Amsterdam

Veron Ang — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 05:29:25 +0000

Take a look at The Bank. No, this isn’t a Hollywood movie, but the name of a beautiful Starbucks concept store in Amsterdam.

Opened on March 8, 2012, the 430 square metre (4,500 sqf) store is located in the vault of the historic Amsterdamsche Bank. Among other things, it features a floor-to-ceiling mural celebrating the history of Dutch coffee traders, repurposed Dutch oak throughout the space, antique Delft blue tiles, a ceiling sculpture created from 1,876 hand-cut wooden blocks, and a wall clad in recycled bicycle inner tubes.

At the Coffee Theatre, baristas will “develop new coffee brewing methods” and offer “small batch reserve coffees available nowhere else on the continent.”

If you are a Twitter user, you can try following Starbucks’ tweets. For example, the bakery tweet out ‘warm cookies’ the minute a fresh batch rolls out of the oven.

Credit: Starbucks

Have Your Say!

What do you think of Starbucks The Bank? Do you know of any other unique Starbucks concept stores in the world? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

Starbucks The Bank
Herengracht 595 1017 CE
Amsterdam
The Netherlands

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Cawaii Koohii Maid Cafe – Fun Cosplay Café in Singapore

Veron Ang — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:10:01 +0000

Cawaii Koohii Maid Cafe is one place that has been getting my hot-blooded guy friends quite excited. As far as I know, this cosplay maid café is the only one of its kind in Singapore.

The cosy establishment at Funan Digitalife Mall is staffed by young women dressed in French maid costumes. The idea is that they are “servants” while the customers are “masters”. The girls have been taught by a Japanese idol how to serve customers, greet in Japanese and even dance.

Credit

The maid uniform is just adorable, made up of a short dress, petticoat, pinafore, stockings and accessories like rabbit or cat ears. Not hard to see why guys are so enamoured! If you’d like to take a photo of/with the girls, you can for the price of S$5.

But if you are here for a meal, the menu has a variety of dishes and colourful drinks with Japanese names.

Megurine Luka
S$9.80++

The Megurine Luka is some kind of fruit soda. I can’t remember exactly as I ordered it mainly for the cute star-shaped stirrer and little umbrella.

Cappuccino
S$6.50++

The girls even created their own version of kitty art on our cappuccino. That’s a lovely touch that we had not expected!

One of the girls, we discovered, is quite adept at drawing anime. Here’s one she drew of me. If only I look as cute in real life!

My friend, a cartoonist, drew in an anime version of himself.

The friendly girls definitely went out of their way to make our time here a fun-filled one. They not only cast “magic” to make my drink sweeter, but convinced my male companion and I to do it as well. If you know what the “Care Bear Stare” is like, the magic casting action is somewhat similar!

Cawaii Koohii Maid Cafe is a fun spot for an informal meal or drink. The girls are clearly the main draw, and they certainly strive to make the customers feel at home. What you get from here is a unique experience you will not forget for a long time.

Have Your Say!

Have you been to any cosplay or maid cafés? What was your experience like? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

Cawaii Koohii Maid Cafe
Funan DigitaLife Mall
109 North Bridge Road
Singapore 179097
Tel: +65 6336 0010 | Website
Service:

Opening hours: 12noon – 9pm daily

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Ya Kun Kaya Cookies

Veron Ang — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:29:54 +0000

Singapore coffee chain Ya Kun has a long history — since 1944 — of serving up delicious kaya toast. But did you know they also sell cookies made with their famed coconut jam?

The cookies are available all year round. And just for Chinese New Year, they have been specially packaged in tins. So if you know anyone who’s a big fan of the Ya Kun kaya, these kaya cookies would make great gifts.

Kaya cookies
S$16.80 for a tin / S$30.20 for 2

The kaya cookies are available in two flavours:

Kaya butter
Kaya pistachio

Personally I prefer the butter cookies to the pistachio version, as the butter cookies are lighter and crumble easily in the mouth while the pistachio cookies are quite hard to bite on. Just don’t expect a full-on kaya flavour, as I find the taste of kaya rather subtle.

Butter cookies this good will disappear quickly! Be sure to get a tin for yourself before they fly off the shelves completely.

With a minimum S$8 purchase in a single receipt, you would receive a set of Ya Kun edition red packets. Great for red packet collectors!

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What are your favourite types of cookies? Share with us in the comments!

Ya Kun (亚坤)
All outlets
Website

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Toby’s Estate – Espresso Bar and Coffee House

Melissa Koh — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:00:35 +0000

Launched in October 2011, Toby’s Estate sits in the picturesque enclave of Robertson Quay. At the forefront of the coffee industry in Australia, Toby’s Estate has finally expanded its empire to Singapore where coffee aficionados have been anticipating its opening.

The casual café introduces a diverse range of coffee, including high altitude Arabica beans from around the globe, and sophisticated brewing techniques. The beans are combined such that their flavours complement one another without losing their individual qualities.

As you enter, you will smell the enticing aroma of freshly ground coffee. What greets you is a gigantic steel roaster that reaches the top of the 6 metre tall ceiling.

The spacious, modern rustic setting allows patrons to feel at ease. The high ceiling makes a visually impressive interior; brightly lit and airy, with natural light illuminating the café through tall windows. Do not miss the large hand-painted mural above the counter that illustrates the coffee journey from the bean to the cup.

If you so wish, you may opt for alfresco seating where you can enjoy the fresh air and occasional river breeze.

Along the long bench where you can have a cuppa with your companions, you will find a coffee tree sprouting from the centre.

Sacks of high quality coffee beans imported from all over the world are stacked up at the side of the café, waiting to be roasted.

Coffee beans are roasted and brewed daily on-site, ensuring freshness and control of the flavour profile of the beans, preventing any loss of their delicate flavours and aromas.

The best seat in the house has to be at the counter bar, where you can witness the coffee action going on behind the counters as the baristas inject passion into every concoction.

All the baristas are technically experienced in coffee brewing and are further trained specially in the field by a highly experienced coffee roaster master. Singapore’s award winning barista, Suhaimie, is the second hire right after Alvaro Sanchez from Australia.

On one side of the counter you will find glass beakers and flasks resembling a chemistry lab set-up. You will discover different extraction methods such as the Chemex and Siphon.

Currently, Toby’s Estate is showcasing three Cup of Excellence Origins from Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia.

You can go for the Rodyk blend, named after Rodyk Street, the café’s address in Singapore. This house blend is a smooth coffee with a spicy nose and long lingering berry chocolate after-taste. It tastes great with milk and is very well rounded as an espresso.

Espresso
S$3.50++ / S$5++ with milk

Porcelain mugs are excellent in allowing coffee to taste its best; porcelain maintains the warmth longer which helps preserves the flavour.

Latte
S$5++

If espressos are too intense for your liking, then go for a cup of latte with perfectly frothed milk instead.

Babycino
S$3++

For a kid-friendly beverage, try the Babycino, a hot chocolate drink.

To complement the beverages, a beautiful array of handmade pastries is available, sedulously sourced from local independent bakers.

Artisan pastries
S$6++

As Toby’s Estate is still adjusting the food menu, the following introductory dishes may or may not be available in future.

Fresh fruit salad
Price unavailable

The fresh fruit salad comprises of watermelon, papaya, pineapple, blueberries, strawberries and pears served with a side of yoghurt. It is a healthy and refreshing way to kick-start your day with something light on your digestive system.

Tomato salad with pomegranate
Price unavailable

The tomato salad with pomegranate boasts thick succulent slices of tomatoes, with pomegranate arils adding lovely textures. The acidity in the fruits is well balanced with the liberal drizzle of dressing that is light and overall nicely seasoned.

This salad is great for the heart and throat, providing a rich source of vitamins and a healthful counterbalance to a diet high in sweet-fatty components.

Ciabatta toast with organic jam, marmalade or vegemite
S$4++

Ham and scrambled eggs
Price unavailable

A hearty and nutritious breakfast provides fuel for a busy day ahead! While the ham and scrambled eggs is not yet available on the menu, an interesting alternative is Toby’s Breakfast, a composition of scrambled eggs, back bacon, roasted tomatoes and sautéed mushrooms served with fresh orange juice (S$18++).

Smoked salmon and eggs
Price unavailable

Beans on toast
Price unavailable

Load up on fibres and carbohydrates with beans on toast. The beans are sufficiently soft, with the bread slightly dampened by the sauce yet maintaining its crispy crust.

Green salad with balsamic dressing
S$8++

For the health junkies, you can go for the palate cleansing green salad with balsamic dressing. This low calorie salad is a mixture of fresh greens, composed of both leafy and non-leafy vegetables. Amidst the varying shades of green you will find lettuce varieties, rocket greens, cucumber and long beans torn into bite-sized fragments and tossed with oil and vinegar.

Asian chicken and noodle salad
Price unavailable

The Asian chicken and noodle salad encompasses a magnificent interplay of ingredients, soba noodles, bite-sized chicken pieces, lettuce, cucumber, onions, red bell peppers and a generous sprinkle of crushed peanuts to name a few. The tender chicken has a familiar taste, which I recognise as being somewhat similar to Hainanese chicken. The contrasting blend of tastes and textures is ingratiating and makes a mouthwatering revelation.

If you are inspired to brew your own drink, coffee beans, tea leaves and drinking chocolate are available for purchase, as well as coffee equipment and accessories.

The drinking chocolate is a unique blend of the cocoa with powdered sugar ideal for a rich hot chocolate or a cappuccino dusting.

Toby’s Estate Keep Cup 8oz

The environmentally friendly take-away cup is reusable, unbreakable and dishwasher safe, with a 4-year life span after which it can be recycled.

Also available for purchase is the book Coffee Trails, in which founder Toby Smith spills the beans on his coffee journey across the globe. The book offers a commentary of his travels companied by wonderful pictures captured by photographer Garrett Robinson. Packing 11 countries into their itinerary and documenting their odyssey to the great growing coffee regions of the world; Coffee Trails details Smith’s personal philosophies on different coffee plantations, the harvesting and processing techniques each country employs and how it impacts the end product that lands in his coffee houses.

As Singaporeans are gaining deeper appreciation for quality coffee, Toby’s Estate is a place where coffee lovers can convene for gourmet coffee. Plus, with the free wi-fi to entice the laptop carrying crowd, you may just be tempted to stay here all day long!

Have Your Say!

Where can you sip on the best coffee in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Toby’s Estate
8 Rodyk Street #01-03/04
Singapore 238216
Tel: +65 6636 7629 | Website

Opening hours: 7am – 6pm daily

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Coffee Stars by Dao – New Star in Town

Jasper Aston Lim — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:00:10 +0000

With coffee outlets located all over the world, including major cities like New York, Beijing and Tokyo, the Coffee Stars by Dao chain from Thailand has opened its first branch in Singapore. Known as Coffee Beans by Dao in Thailand, the café-restaurant at Wisma Atria is its first outlet in South-East Asia outside of its home country.

The café sports an open concept with a casual, yet elegant design and a chandelier as its centrepiece. It is not uncommon to see a long line of people waiting for a table, hoping to enjoy the authentic Thai cuisine and spread of international desserts.

If you are here for the desserts, the cakes would satiate your sweet tooth.

Banoffi pie
S$6.50++

The Banoffi pie, a sweet mix of fresh banana and caramel atop a pie crusting, would have you going bananas for more! Who knew a banana-based pastry could be so good?

Chocolate mousse cake
S$6.80++

The delicious, smooth chocolate mousse cake has hints of hazelnut, which reminds me of the Ferrero Rocher chocolates.

New York cheesecake with red cherries
S$6.90++

With a thick layer of cherries sitting prettily on top, the classic New York cheesecake has been transformed into a sweet fruity treat.

Blueberry cream cheese pie
S$6.90++

Similarly, the blueberry cream cheese pie features a layer of sweet and slightly tart berries on a bed of cream cheese and a pie base. I prefer this for its smoother texture and blueberry pairing.

Coconut pandan roll
S$5.80++

As one of the signature cakes, the coconut pandan roll does not disappoint. The fragrant scent fills your senses even before you bite down into the tiny, crunchy bits encased in the soft pandan roll. This great-tasting pastry is a must-try!

Thai iced coffee with milk
S$4.50++

Not many restaurants execute Thai iced coffee well. As it turns out, the amount of coffee, milk — added for sweetness — and even ice used is very well-balanced, and basically identical to what you would enjoy at a coffee joint in Thailand.

Beef lasagne
S$11.80++

Feeling peckish? The beef lasagne arrives just out of the oven, along with a friendly reminder from the waitress to be careful about the hot bowl. It is a decent portion of cheese-filled lasagne, but nothing to write home about.

With the reasonable prices, efficient service and accessible location, Coffee Stars by Dao has become a highly favourable dining venue for shoppers along Orchard Road. Its quality dishes and desserts, along with the cosy and trendy ambience are definitely here to stay.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What is your favourite café in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Coffee Stars by Dao
Wisma Atria
435 Orchard Road #01-37 to 41
Singapore 238877
Tel: +65 6733 3881 | Website

Opening hours: 11:30am – 10pm

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The Pigeonhole – Charming Little Book Cafe (with Wi-fi)

Veron Ang — Wed, 18 May 2011 06:44:38 +0000

In Singapore, there are a few cafés where you can go enjoy some quiet time on your computer. Typically, these places have a formula made up of these key ingredients:

Free wi-fi
Good coffee
Staff/customers that don’t mind you hogging tables for hours
Power sockets are a plus

A friend introduced me to one such place recently. Sequestered at Duxton Road, The Pigeonhole may be a hole in the wall to some. For those in the know, it is a hidden gem that should best remain a secret.

Brown latte
S$5

Once settled in comfortably at a table, you realise immediately that The Pigeonhole does not cater to the usual grab-and-go clientèle. For one, there is no food menu here, just a selection of coffees, whiskies, lagers and wines.

Be that as it may, it should probably suffice for the laptop carrying crowd who would like an alternative to the noisier Starbucks. With a quick glance around the room, I observe that there is at least an Apple computer on every table!

There are a couple of coffee beverages here that are made from chocolate milk. My drink is brown latte, a special concoction of espresso mixed with hot steamed chocolate milk. Latte with chocolate… does that make it a mocha then? I like the gentle touch of coffee art in the form of a pigeon. To the web-savvy, it sure looks like the Twitter bird!

The décor is minimalistic. Some may refer to it as “artsy-fartsy”: wooden pigeon holes on the wall, a vintage sewing machine by the entrance and a drum set at the back for when bands perform. That’s right; The Pigeonhole also helps promote local bands and arts.

For the bookworms, you can lose yourself in the diverse variety of old, second-hand and rare books on topics ranging from religion to popular culture to botany to politics.

Credit

Be sure to find a comfortable chair if you’re going to be here for a while. It looks like every chair in the two-unit café is unique, ranging from leather and wooden patio chairs to rattan and beanbag chairs.

Credit

Basically, The Pigeonhole offers a relaxed environment for chilling out over a good book and a cup of joe or using wi-fi. It just needs some fine-tuning in the food department to appeal to a more diverse clientèle.

Then again, that may not be the aim of The Pigeonhole.

Have Your Say!

Which café do you normally go for free wi-fi? Share with us in the comments!

The Pigeonhole
52/53 Duxton Road
Singapore 089516
Tel: +65 8123 1607 (Ave) / +65 9627 2586 (Rayner)
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Opening hours:
Tue – Thu: 10am – 11pm
Fri: 10am – 1am
Sat: 11:30am – 1am
Sun: 11:30am – 11pm

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tcc – High Tea Set for March 2011

Veron Ang — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:00:05 +0000

Every month, tcc the connoisseur concerto lays out a special high tea set at its boutique cafés. What makes this set so popular is that you can enjoy a variety of high-quality bite-sized delights at a very reasonable price. On special occasions such as Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year, the pretty platters are given festive touches like heart-shaped macaron tarts and bak kwa mini sandwiches.

tcc High Tea

The tcc high tea for March 2011 is a treat for both eyes and palate.

High tea set
S$12.90++

Available from 2-6pm daily until March 31, 2011

The new high tea set includes items that range from the bruschetta with chopped tomatoes, scones accompanied by jam and cream, to the mini oreo cheesecake topped with whipped cream.

Also included in the price is a drink, which you can choose between the tcc premium blend or the tea of the day.

Have Your Say!

What is your favourite tcc high tea set? Share with us in the comments!

tcc
- ION Orchard
- PoMo
- Wisma Atria
- International Building
- Suntec City
- Anchorpoint
- Central
- Changi Airport T3 Arrival Hall
- Marina at Keppel Bay
- Changi Airport T3 Departure
- No. 4 Robinson Road
- Samsung Hub
- German Centre
- Novena Square
- Centrepoint
- Bugis Junction (Atrium)
- The Pier @ Robertson
- Funan DigitaLife Mall
- The Atrium @ Orchard
- Isetan Scotts
- Singapore Management University
- Citylink Mall
- Raffles Xchange
- Great World City
- Peranakan Place
- Bugis Junction (Main Boutique)
- NTUC Building @ One Marina Boulevard
- Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
- Millenia Walk
- Clarke Quay
- Circular Road
- Beach Centre
Website

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Winners of Giveaway: 5x Roast Beef Sandwiches and Coffee from Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar

Veron Ang — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 07:00:00 +0000

In a recent Sparklette giveaway, 5 sets of delicious roast beef sandwiches and daily brew from the new Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza went up for grabs. More than 70 of you participated. Read on to find out who the 5 lucky winners are.

Winners

Congratulations to all 5 winners! You have been contacted at your email with instructions on how you can collect your prize.

Results of SQL query that selected the comments randomly (duplicate and late submissions have been removed):

About Oriole

Oriole Cafe & Bar has a flagship store at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites next to 313@Somerset. It recently opened a second outlet, Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza, serving espresso-based and single cup filtered or brewed coffee alongside sandwiches, salads and freshly baked items.

Read the review of Oriole Cafe & Bar at Somerset.
Read the review of Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza.

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http://sparklette.net/contest/oriole-winners/ | Leave a comment

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Giveaway: 5x Roast Beef Sandwich and Coffee from Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar [Ended]

Veron Ang — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:00:15 +0000

Update: Contest has ended. The winners have been announced. Find out who won.

Oriole Cafe & Bar has opened a second outlet at Republic Plaza. The new Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar offers espresso-based and single cup filtered or brewed coffee alongside sandwiches, salads and freshly baked items.

Read the review of the new Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar.

Sandwich Giveaway!

This week, we’re giving away 5 sets of roast beef sandwich and daily brew from Oriole. Here’s how you can get your hands on one of these delicious sandwiches and coffee.

This contest is only open to members of the Sparklette and Oriole Facebook pages. So if you haven’t, “Like” both pages now. (Yes, just click the Like button!)
Leave a comment here using your Facebook name and a valid email address, along with the answer to this question:
- Where is the second outlet of Oriole located?

Giveaway Details

This giveaway ends on March 4, 2011 (2359 hours Singapore time).
The 5 winners will be randomly selected by an SQL query.
The winners will self-collect the sandwich and drink (either dine-in or take-out) at Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar, Republic Plaza.
Please leave a valid email address when filling out the comment form so that we can contact you if you’ve won.
Please only comment once.
Please note that all comments are moderated. Hence your comment may not show up right away.
Please also note that comments that do not follow the instructions on how to participate (mentioned above) may not be published, or may be removed later on.
The winners will be announced in a separate post and you are advised to subscribe to Sparklette (Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or iPhone) so that you can be quickly notified when the announcement post has been published.

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http://sparklette.net/contest/oriole/ | 75 comments

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Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar – Have a Break, Have a Sandwich

Veron Ang — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:03:20 +0000

It’s been a crazy few weeks at the Sparklette headquarters. In between some web design projects, I have been getting in touch with companies to sponsor awesome prizes for the contests here (Why, haven’t you noticed the increasing frequency of these giveaways? *wink*).

When things get so busy, you may wish to order take-outs at lunch. I like that I can simply grab a sandwich and coffee from Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at the towering Republic Plaza. Located smack in the middle of the central business district, this is the second Oriole outlet after Oriole Cafe & Bar at Somerset.

Oriole at Republic Plaza offers espresso-based and single cup filtered or brewed coffee alongside sandwiches, salads and baked items. You can dine in at the cosy joint with some seats and high tables, accented by wood furnishings, or order your food to go.

In a way it does remind me of Pret a Manger, the British sandwich chain that enjoyed a short-lived existence before closing shop in Singapore.

Roast beef sandwich with Portobello mushrooms
S$14.9++
Rating:

10 different selections of roast beef sandwiches are available, served with freshly-carved meat and a variety of fillings. There’s something to be said for the simplicity of a sandwich one can throw together in five minutes. But let that not restrict the idea of what a sandwich is. The Roast beef sandwich with Portobello mushrooms is as satisfying as a wholesome meal, because essentially, it is one.

Sliced thinly, the roast beef is really tender, and the mushrooms slices and greens make a perfect accompaniment.

Café latte
S$5.3++
Rating:

A trip to Oriole would not be complete without their signature gourmet coffee, served with a dash of art. Even for take-outs, the baristas spare no effort in making sure the coffee looks pretty in the paper cup.

Sparklette Giveaway

Join my contest giveaway to win one of these wholesome sandwiches and coffee from Oriole!

Have Your Say!

What do you think of the new Oriole at Republic Plaza? Share with us in the comments!

Oriole
Website

Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza

Republic Plaza
9 Raffles Place #01-23/23A
Singapore 048619
Tel: +65 6438 3843

Oriole Cafe & Bar at Pan Pacific Suites

Pan Pacific Suites (next to 313@Somerset)
96 Somerset Road #01-01
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348

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New Starbucks Logo – Love It Or Loathe It? Plus, a Look at the Logos Over the Years

Veron Ang — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 03:00:28 +0000

Starbucks announced a logo change this past week, eliminating the words “Starbucks” and “Coffee”, and the two stars that encircle its twin-tailed siren mascot. The siren has been enlarged to fill the whole logo and is now green instead of green and black.

How do you find the new Starbucks logo?

Some people have speculated that this is a strategic move by the Seattle company to gain a bigger share of the Asian market. By dropping the English words and making the logo more symbolic, it would appeal to people in non-English speaking countries.

Over the years, many coffee chains in China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea have been using logos that closely resemble the distinctive trademark of the coffee giant. The latest logo update certainly makes it less easy to copy.

Here’s a look at the Starbucks logo over the years since 1971.

As a designer, I grow fonder of the new logo each time I look it. It is simpler, cleaner and more iconic. These days, Starbucks does not sell just coffee. The new logo would allow the company the flexibility of expanding into non-coffee markets.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What do you think of the new Starbucks logo? Do you love it or loathe it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/foodbytes/starbucks-logo/ | 13 comments

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tcc – Holiday Coffee Drinks That Warm Your Heart

Veron Ang — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 04:53:59 +0000

I have been a fan of tcc, The Connoisseur Concerto ever since the café chain first opened. The diverse menu offerings that range from chocolate desserts to pastas and cosy ambience make it a popular gathering place amongst my friends.

On special occasions like Valentine’s Day and Halloween, you can enjoy creative drinks concoctions. And at Christmas, these festive-themed drinks become extra pretty.

Nutte Winter
S$7++
Rating:

Try the Nutte Winter, one of the two festive drinks offered for Christmas 2010. This is coffee latte with a tasty tinge of hazelnut. With a dash of red and green, the decorative Christmas colours sure evoke a festive feel! Mostly, I find the chocolate smiling gingerbread man most intriguing; he seemingly dissolves into the coffee within the first minute.

At 7 bucks, this is a rather pricey cup of latte. But if you’re in the mood for a holiday drink that would warm your heart, this drink is perfection.

Have a look at their pretty festive beverages like Berry Oreo and eggnog over the past Christmases.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Have you indulged in any Christmas-themed food and drinks this holiday season? Share with us in the comments!

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http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-christmas-latte/ | 6 comments

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Madam Saigon – Stay Awake with the Potent Vietnamese Drip Coffee!

Veron Ang — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:58:46 +0000

A serendipitous visit to Madam Saigon at Liang Seah Street lent the opportunity to sip on their Vietnamese drip coffee. (Yes, we were there whilst waiting for a table at the incredibly popular Porn’s Thai restaurant next door.)

How do you like your coffee — black, with cream and sugar, or decaf? Are you a fan of the trendy cappuccino, or the no-nonsense plain black coffee?

I like my coffee robust and strong, especially with evaporated milk. But in this case, condensed milk would suffice.

Vietnamese drip coffee
S$3.50++
Rating:

The glasses arrive with the obligatory stainless metal drip filter on top. The coffee, a deep black colour, then trickles through the press and into the glass. Wafting in the air is the lovely aroma of fresh coffee.

The condensed milk comes in a separate bottle and you can squeeze as much of it as you prefer.

Apart from satisfying the craving, coffee doesn’t really have the effect of keeping me awake. I can have my usual caffeinated beverage just before bedtime and still fall asleep like a baby. But this drip coffee from Madam Saigon gives such a kick that 6 hours later during my usual bedtime, I still remain wide awake. I don’t remember the full-bodied cup of joe from Trung Nguyen Coffee having the same effect either.

Surely, this is exactly the kind of coffee that we need every morning!

Video on Vietnamese drip coffee

Here’s a video on how Vietnamese drip coffee is prepared.

Have Your Say!

What is your favourite type of coffee? Share with us in the comments!

Madam Saigon
Website

Liang Seah Street outlet

30 Liang Seah Street
Singapore 189051
Tel: +65 6333 9798
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 11:30am – 3pm, 6-11pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 12-4pm

Millenia Walk outlet

Millenia Walk
9 Raffles Boulevard #01-26
Singapore 039596
Tel: +65 6338 3831 | Website
Service:

Opening hours: 11:30am – 10pm daily

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tcc – Mooncake Concerto

Veron Ang — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:00:43 +0000

Boutique café chain tcc, which quietly changed its name from “the coffee connoisseur” to “the connoisseur concerto” recently, has launched their first ever mooncakes this Mid-Autumn Festival. The selection includes the classic mooncake, mango mooncake and yes, a coffee-themed treat. Colour me excited!

Unboxing the mooncakes

The mooncakes are encased in a long gift box decorated with colourful blossoms, then packed in a reusable shopping bag with a matching design.

The packaging is frills-free but stylish. The inner cover is printed with some information on the three types of mooncakes.

Swirly patterns adorn each mooncake, surrounding the familiar logo at the centre.

Classic mooncakes

White lotus paste with egg yolk
S$38+ for a box of 4
Rating:

Let’s start with the old favourite. The Mid-Autumn Festival just isn’t the same without the traditional mooncake, which makes an appearance here as the white lotus paste with egg yolk mooncake.

For a maiden attempt, tcc’s classic mooncake is extremely well-executed. I am impressed! The brown outer skin is thin and moist, enveloping a velvety lotus paste filling that is delightfully soft and of just the right level of sweetness. The salted yolk provides a nice contrast in taste and texture, and has been thoughtfully flattened across to ensure that every slice gets an even share. Have you had any other mooncake that has the egg yolk spread out this way too?

Mini snowskin mooncakes

Royal Mango mini snowskin mooncake
S$36+ for a box of 8
Rating:

Mango is a popular flavour this mooncake season, with Crystal Jade, Emicakes, Goodwood Park and Mandarin Orchard offering their own renditions of the zesty delicacy.

For tcc’s Royal Mango mini mooncake, the smell and taste of the fruit is very faint until you get to the truffle core, which oozes out mango puree in a burst of flavour. It would certainly be a more complete experience if the snowskin had a refreshing mango scent to hint at what is on the inside.

Cappuccino Concerto mini snowskin mooncake
S$36+ for a box of 8
Rating:

To please coffee fans, the Cappuccino Concerto would do the trick. Bite into a slice of this caffeinated treat and you would taste the coffee-flavoured lotus paste and a coffee cream truffle. While the coffee taste is quite robust, it would fare even better if it was slightly less sweet, with a hint of bitterness even.

What better to wash down these mooncakes than with a piping hot drink? When dining in at any of the cafés, you can pair a snowskin mooncake with a coffee or tea at S$8.50++. Speaking of which, what is your favourite drink at tcc?

For a first attempt at mooncake making, tcc has done a marvellous job especially with the traditional mooncake. The snowskin ones are commendable, and would do even better with refinement. This underdog sure has turned out to be the biggest surprise this season!

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What do you think of pairing mooncakes with coffee? Have you had any other coffee mooncakes this year? Share with us in the comments!

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-mooncakes/ | 8 comments

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Tom N Toms Coffee – Korean Coffee Power!

Veron Ang — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:29:37 +0000

Fans of Korean drama shows and handsome Korean actors would be pleased to know that another Korean export has hit our shores, in the form of coffee. Boasting over 100 outlets in Korea, the Tom N Toms Coffee chain has arrived to grab a slice of the espresso coffee market in Singapore.

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
S$5.20
Rating:

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.

Colourful 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!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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 in the comments!

Tom N Toms Coffee
ICON Village
10 Gopeng Street #01-12-14
Singapore 078878
Website

Open 24 hours daily

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http://sparklette.net/food/tom-n-toms-coffee/ | 12 comments

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Oriole Cafe & Bar Turns Milk into Silky Works of Art

Veron Ang — Mon, 10 May 2010 10:42:23 +0000

If you love coffee, you would probably like it even more when it comes with a bit of art.

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 true connoisseur to appreciate coffee art, does it? And that’s exactly what you will get at Oriole Cafe & Bar. This lifestyle café has a flagship store at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites next to 313@Somerset and a second outlet at Republic Plaza.

Cappuccino
S$5++
Rating:

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. One of them is Keith Low, the owner himself who also runs Whitebait & Kale and the European restaurant, Aerin’s at Raffles City.

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 opening experience!

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

Philly steak & cheese
S$15++
Rating:

Of course, your stomach will not be filled by just drinking coffee alone. Grab 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 flavour!

Spaghetti prawns
S$15++
Rating:

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 flavour! 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 in the comments!

Oriole
Website

Oriole Cafe & Bar at Pan Pacific Suites

Pan Pacific Suites (next to 313@Somerset)
96 Somerset Road #01-01
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348

Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza

Republic Plaza
9 Raffles Place #01-23/23A
Singapore 048619
Tel: +65 6438 3843

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http://sparklette.net/food/oriole-cafe/ | 27 comments

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Giveaway: Wanna Taste the Real Kopi Luwak (Extraordinary Civet Coffee)? [Ended]

Veron Ang — Tue, 04 May 2010 06:53:42 +0000

Okay, I’ll admit it. I was wrong.

Some time back I got all excited after having Kopi Luwak, the most expensive coffee in the world. While the real Kopi Luwak IS indeed the most precious and valued coffee bean in the world, the fact that its authenticity is difficult to verify has given rise to people selling fake or diluted coffee at high prices. Sadly, what I had wasn’t the real thing at all!

But now, I’m proud to say that I have tasted the truly authentic Kopi Luwak.

If you’re wondering, what the heck is this “Kopi Luwak”, it is none other than the most extraordinary and expensive coffee in the world. You can hardly find it anywhere, and when you do, the real thing would cost you upward of $50 per cup! I kid you not!

I have your attention now? Good. By the end of this post, you’ll find out how you can get some of these extraordinary coffee for yourself!

Real Kopi Luwak (civet coffee)
Rating:

Basically, this animal known as the civet eats only the most delicious coffee berries (the same way my cat eats only the most delicious fish). The coffee beans go through a special fermentation process in the creature’s belly, and come out undigested in the poop. Pesky humans then look through the civets’ number twos to collect the precious beans. These are thoroughly cleaned and roasted and sold at astronomical prices.

Civet coffee is produced only in a few parts of Southeast Asia, with just 500 kilograms of it produced worldwide annually. Due to such exclusivity, a pound of it costs between US$100 and US$600, easily making it the most expensive coffee in the world!

Thanks to Alberto Taphanel who is based in Bali, Indonesia, the homeland of Kopi Luwak, I had a chance to taste some of his Real Kopi Luwak. Here’s a little story on how he came to produce his own genuine Kopi Luwak:

The more producers I contacted, the more I realized that around Kopi Luwak industry there is a lot of fraud. Some producers said that they had the most inexpensive Kopi Luwak, others said that they were the only ones who have it or have the purest one. I bought samples of each producer and finally I found out that they were not offering me the real Kopi Luwak. As this coffee is very expensive, many unscrupulous people mix or fake it and the final result is totally different from the original, including the price.
Finally, I reached the conclusion that the only way to have the authentic Kopi Luwak coffee was first to obtain the raw material from the plantations and second, to process and roast it by myself. After many tests, I could obtain the real Kopi Luwak.

Alberto sent us some of his precious Kopi Luwak bean. These arrive in airtight packages. After brewing, there’s this wonderful aroma that permeates the whole house for hours after you have drank all the coffee! So much so that even after I leave the house and come back in the evening, I can still smell it the moment I step through the door. I don’t recall having any other coffee that produces as strong an aroma as this. It’s pretty incredible.

Even Snowy, our family cat, loves the smell of the coffee. We found him sneaking into the kitchen and sniffing the packets of Kopi Luwak many times!

For a coffee that is so strong smelling, it tastes very smooth and light, but still has that rich coffee flavour. You have to taste it for yourself! You can read more about Kopi Luwak and make your purchase at Real Kopi Luwak.

Win the Kopi Luwak for yourself!

For now, Alberto has graciously made available some of these beans to be given out to our readers. Yes, you heard that right. You have the rare opportunity to taste the real 100% Kopi Luwak yourself! Here’s how:

Leave a comment below and shout “I want to taste the real Kopi Luwak!“
Bonus chance (Twitter): Follow @Sparklette on Twitter and tweet “Coffee Giveaway at @Sparklette: Taste the real Kopi Luwak, the most expensive coffee in the world! http://bit.ly/c1P7Uu“
Bonus chance (Facebook): ‘Like’ our Facebook Page and leave the Wall comment “I want to taste the real Kopi Luwak!“

That’s it! Were you expecting something harder?

3 winners will be drawn randomly, and each wins a 30-gram packet of Kopi Luwak worth S$40, more than enough for 2-3 cups. Contest ends 2359 hours on May 14, 2010. Good luck!

Note: Contest is open only to people in Singapore.

Real Kopi Luwak
Online orders: Website

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/real-kopi-luwak/ | 50 comments

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Sparklette Food Poll! What is your morning pick-me-up – tea or coffee?

Veron Ang — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:42:23 +0000

I am having a lot of fun interacting with readers on Twitter and Facebook. To spice things up even more, I thought it might be interesting to run some food polls. This way we can learn more from one another and maybe even try out new food!

To start things off, I tweeted an impromptu question last night:

What is your morning pick-me-up – tea or coffee?

For a simple either-or question, a surprisingly good mix of responses came in!

From Twitter,

GrowlyBear tweets: Coffee
beaker133 tweets: soda or tea, I do not drink coffee ever
don_alano tweets: Has to be coffee
nickpan tweets: kopi C peng

From Facebook,

Joel Pan says: Milk.
Jennifer Hardy says: tea :)
Merv Kwok says: coffee
WeeKee Chia says: coke? :D
Saul Sio says: Milo
Elf Seah says: coffee
Edmund Ng says: milk and cereals
Anastasia Sin says: kopi o kao ka dai
Khairani Moktar says: teh c

That’s a whole range of answers! No one said beer?

As an avid coffee drinker myself, I start each morning with a hot cup of kopi si. This is, quite simply, coffee with evaporated milk. It’s less sweet than the sugar and condensed milk variety. Personally I find that the evaporated milk gives the drink a smoother and well-rounded texture.

What’s your morning pick-me-up?

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/coffee-or-tea/ | 28 comments

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Ya Kun – Get Discounted Kopi and Toast!

Veron Ang — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:14:50 +0000

Screw the French press. They’ve got the sock!

Who am I talking about? Why, Ya Kun (亚坤), of course! If you frequent their air-conditioned coffee shops, you would no doubt be familiar with that funny slogan. Otherwise, you’re way too engrossed in the kopi and kaya toast.

Credit

Personally, I do prefer traditional kopi to Western coffee. So I’m sharing with you the coupon that we’ve been using to get discounts off their drinks and food. Take advantage of it this national day weekend! The coupon is valid ’til end September 2009.

Click to enlarge and print

Simply print this out and present it at any outlet (except Takashimaya and Far East Square) to enjoy the deal! The promotion ties in with their 65th anniversary. Yes, they have been making their coffee since 1944.

Ya kun isn’t just popular with the greying uncles and aunties, but the young and hip, too! Even at the outlet I frequent, I see an ang moh every single time. He likes our kopi!

About the funny slogan in the opening paragraph, if you didn’t catch it, it comes from these vintage posters plastered at the Ya Kun outlets.

Happy National Day, Singapore!

Ya Kun (亚坤)
All outlets
Website

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/ya-kun/ | 8 comments

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