Category Archives: Singapore
Wok & Barrel @ Duxton Hill
Serving local favorites with a contemporary twist is Duxton Hill’s quaint little bistro- Wok & Barrel, opened by Chef Shen Tan- previous owner of the popular Madam Tan’s Nasi Lemak stall at Maxwell Food Centre. Chef Tan has certainly done well for herself, moving from a small stall to a whole unit space of her own and opening her own cafe.
Having heard many good things about their local delicacies offered in their menu such as the Beef Rendang Pizza, Bak Chok Mee Pasta and Bak Kwa Pork Ribs, I was definitely excited and keen to make a visit down to try it out. Unfortunately, when we reached the Wok & Barrel at lunch time, we realised that those items were only available after 5pm. The lunch menu was mostly nasi lemak sets, sandwiches and wraps.
It was disappointing having traveled all the way down, only to realise that we could not sample those dishes but we were much too hungry to leave for another place so we decided to give their Nasi Lemak Sets a shot.
There were 6 different types of sets varying from Mutton Curry, Crispy Pork and Beef Rendang but all served with coconut rice, omelette slices, ikan billis, sambal belachan and Asian Coleslaw.
The Crispy Pork $7.90 which was actually deep fried marinated thin pork belly slices reminded us a tad of bacon streaks when we first saw it. It was crisp and sinfully tasteful- the sort of guilty pleasure you feel biting into meat that has been submerged in hot oil. Pleasing to the tastebuds but not so on the waistline.
Special mention goes out to their Asian Coleslaw which I loved. The cabbage and carrots were neatly shredded into thin slices and the lime dressing was not your typical coleslaw dressing. It offered a refreshing twist which worked extremely well as a contrast to the usual heaviness that mayonnaise gives in regular dressings.
The Crispy Chicken $7.90 was another deep fried item we ordered. Yes, we were on an artery clogging streak. Nonetheless, the boneless chicken thigh was succulent, juicy and crispy and was a nice match with the soft fluffy coconut rice. The sambal belachan definitely hit the right notes with its colour and presentation yet the spiciness did not quite match. This is one for the non spicy fans and a miss for those who appreciate a spicy kick.
Selfish Gene Cafe
Barely a year old, Selfish Gene Cafe has already made quite a name for itself in the Duxton area. Opened by Le Cordon Bleu graduate Gene Mok, this cafe prides itself at serving unpretentious, affordable and definitely tasty food accompanied with a good brew of coffee or tea. After all, as his tagline goes.. ‘Gene is selfish because he will not serve food he would not eat!’
We wandered to this cafe quite by accident because Group Therapy Cafe was closed for the day and my were we glad we made that ‘accident’.
The Smoked Salmon Sandwich was a good portion and size. The focaccia had a well kneaded tough exterior but a complimentary moist and holey middle after biting into it. Though we did away with the cream cheese for this one, the sandwich was still not too dry and definitely refreshing for an afternoon bite! The accompanying mesclun salad with the homemade dressing was delicious. It was tangy, sweet and perfect for those green leaves. This is one homemade recipe I would really like to get my hands on!
The Mushroom Toast was great mix of chopped mushrooms sautéed in a little butter, olive oil, garlic and thyme and topped on a crisp slice of toasted bread. This tasted as pretty as it looked and it definitely left us wanting more after we cleaned this plate up.
Toby’s Estate
Hailing all the way from down under Australia, Toby’s Estate has opened its first ever offshore branch in Singapore. Word has it that the owner whose name is Toby (no surprises there) had actually worked in the coffee plantations and factories of Brazil, Guatemala, Columbia and even East Asia, honing his skills before setting up his first cafe in Sydney! Needless to say, Toby’s Estate is yet another gourmet coffee store whose owners are passionate about a good brew.
But of course what’s a fragrant roast of coffee without a hearty breakfast platter to accompany on a lazy Saturday morning? Toby’s Estate also offers a pretty extensive menu for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even pastries on display for anyone who is either looking for a good meal or simply something to munch on.
Starting off our weekend brunch was a creamy and cheesy bowl of mac and 3 cheese. We ordered the kids size at $8 because we did not want our entrée to take up too much tummy space before our mains arrived. And it was a good choice since eventually, this small bowl serving was just nice.
Deniece had the breakfast croissant with scrambled eggs + smoked salmon $12 and added a side of sauteed mushrooms $3. She had full praises for her choice and I have to admit, the presentation was definitely appetite inducing. The croissant was well crisp, browned and the buttery consistency was commendable.
Baker N Cook @ Hillcrest Road
Opened by New Zealand celebrity baker and cookbook author- Dean Brettschneider, Baker N Cook joins the ranks of international bakeries such as Maison Kayser and Paul Bakery that have recently opened their flagship store in our sunny Singapore in the past few months.
Nestled among the restaurants and shops of Greenwood Ave, Baker N Cook blends in so beautifully with its surroundings at the junction of Hillcrest Road and Greendale Ave that you would almost miss it if you were not looking for it.
This artisan bakery/foodstore/cafe displays its wide variety of pastries, breads, pies and cakes on the counters, tempting you even before you walk through the glass doors. Freshly baked croissants, meringues and muffins are just some of many goods offered as part of their handcrafted signature range amongst others which include jams, chutney and granola which are packaged for easy takeaways. Get ready for a carb-laden morning/afternoon when you get here because you will definitely be spoilt for choice!
Between the four of us, we first ordered the Pain Au Chocolat $3.10 which was crisp, buttery and well-flaked. Unfortunately, being a chocolate croissant, I would have appreciated a little bit more chocolate inside and it would have been perfect if this was served still warm from the oven.
PS. Cafe (Palais Renaissance)
Always one to exude that chilled and laid back vibe with its large plate servings, mouthwatering displays of cakes and somewhat pricey menu, PS. Cafe is indeed a dependable choice to fall back on when you simply wish to unwind. They are afterall, one of the first pioneer concept cafes that first came onto the scene in the last couple of years.
This was my first time at the Palais Renaissance branch and the ambiance did not disappoint one bit. The somewhat dim lighting atmosphere unique to PS. Cafe was no different at this location and while it was tempting to stay at the air-conditioned part of the cafe, I was freezing after being in the cinema for the last 2 hours so the al-fresco area was naturally a better option for me.
I did however prefer the outdoor section of the cafe once I saw it. It was an open concept with natural light coming through and mirrors all around the place. If it werent for the renovations going on next door and ruining the view from the window, it would have been perfect.
Furthermore, because we came at such an odd timing of 5pm when there was almost no one, we had the entire garden-like outdoor patio all to ourselves. It is actually the perfect place for a date given the privacy, layout and ‘lush greenery’ all around you. But you have to come at the right time because the place can get pretty packed and crowded around dinner time.
Since the dinner menu only starts at 6pm, we decided to start to order the Chocolate Crunch Doorstop $15.90 first. It was three layers of chocolate mousse, caramelized nuts (pecans, almonds and walnuts) and a chocolate cake base topped with malteaser balls! I loved the first 2 layers. The chocolate mousse was not too sweet, light, smooth and airy (just as it was supposed to be) and I never say no to caramelized nuts! But the chocolate cake was a bit of a disappointment because it was simply too dry!
