Yue (乐) @ Aloft Novena Singapore - A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation

Nestled within the world's largest Aloft Hotel, Yue (乐) Restaurant takes centre stage, boasting traditional Chinese cuisine with a contemporary twist, all under the expert guidance of Executive Sous Chef Awyeong Kin. It offers a delightful array of dishes that harmoniously blend flavours and textures.

Deep Fried Eggplant 4/5

Initiating our dining experience, the Deep Fried Eggplant ($12) captured our taste buds with its perfectly crisp exterior and a delicate coat of batter. Simply seasoned with salt and pepper, it reached new heights with the addition of chicken floss, offering an elevated dimension of enjoyment.

Crispy Baby Squid 4/5

The Crispy Baby Squid ($15) emerged as a modern rendition of local rojak, featuring deep-fried baby squid tossed in a sweet shrimp sauce and garnished with ground peanuts — a delightful twist on a familiar flavour, marrying crispiness and savoury sweetness.

Braised Fish Maw Soup 4/5

For a comforting start, the Braised Fish Maw Soup ($12 per serving) presented a wholesome alternative to traditional shark fin soup. Laden with fish maw, crab meat, and conpoy, this hearty soup invited personalisation with a dash of vinegar and pepper. Current promotion: Receive a complimentary 45ml drizzle of Martell Cordon Bleu when a diner orders a small portion.

Steamed Cod Fish 4/5

The Steamed Cod Fish ($23) showcased a fatty fish delightfully paired with a homemade spicy garlic peppercorn sauce. The sauce garnered unanimous approval, prompting suggestions to bottle and sell this delectable accompaniment.

Charcoal Grilled Beef Ribeye 4/5

A reminiscence of New Ubin Seafood, the Charcoal Grilled Beef Ribeye ($95 for 500g) exhibited a perfect blend of tenderness and juiciness, complemented by a tantalising charred aroma. Served with Himalayan salt or mustard, it was a carnivorous delight.

Chilli Tiger Prawn 4/5

Opting for a deviation from the usual Chilli Crab, we indulged in the Chilli Tiger Prawn ($9/100g). With a minimum order of 500g, the option to have them with deep-fried or steamed mantou added to the allure provides an ideal vessel to savour the rich chilli crab sauce.

Sweet and Sour Pork 4/5

Yue's Sweet and Sour Pork rendition added a playful twist with popping candies. Not overly sweet, and with a generous serving of pork, each bite delivered a delightful crunch.

Stewed Seafood Bee Hoon 4.2/5

The Stewed Seafood Bee Hoon ($26/$52) stood out with its silky bee hoon absorbing the delectable broth. Enhanced by the sweetness of prawns and clams, a side of sambal elevated the dish, adding another layer of enjoyment.

Chilled Mango Sago, Lime Sorbet 4/5

Concluding our culinary journey was the Chilled Mango Sago ($8 per serving) with a refreshing scoop of Lime Sorbet. This sweet and sour combination provided the perfect ending, leaving our palates invigorated.

Yue (乐) Restaurant at Aloft Novena Singapore artfully combines tradition and innovation, creating a dining experience that marries the richness of classic Chinese flavours with contemporary twists. It is a Chinese restaurant worth discovering in the heart of the city.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yue (乐)
Aloft Novena Singapore

Lobby Level
16 Ah Hood Road
Singapore 329982
Tel: +65 68086846
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Website
Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus number 139 or 145. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Black & White Bistro @ Shaw Plaza - A Gastronomic Journey at Black & White Bistro

Nestled in the heart of Shaw Plaza is Black & White Bistro, the latest chic new eatery that offers a carefully curated all-day dining menu featuring an extensive western selection, fine wines and artisanal tea and coffee. Stepping into the restaurant, diners are greeted with a modern ambience decked in tasteful black and white decor, contemporary art pieces and dimmed lighting, which creates a cosy yet upscale dining atmosphere.

Berry Fresh Mojito 4/5

We started the meal with the Berry Fresh Mojito ($20), a refreshing concoction of juicy berries and fresh mint leaves that tantalise the taste buds.

Spanish Gambas 4.2/5

The Spanish Gambas ($17) features succulent prawns in a flavourful blend of olive oil, garlic, chilli, and Spanish paprika. The aromatic garlic and the subtle heat from the chilli enhance the natural sweetness of the prawns. The dish is also served with a side of crusty bread to soak up the luscious sauce.

B&W Signature Fish & Chips 4.2/5

The B&W Signature Fish & Chips features charcoal beer batter fish and chips, which combines the classic English dish with a twist of charcoal seasoning for a unique flavour. The sea bass fillet is lightly coated in a special charcoal-infused batter and fried to perfection, which gives it a delightful crunch while retaining a moist and flaky inside. The charcoal batter imparts a subtle smokiness to the fish, enhancing its natural flavours. The dish is served with a side of fries and tartar sauce.

Build Your Own Brekkie 4/5

The Build Your Own Brekkie ($12++) offers a delightful and customisable breakfast experience with a medley of delicious ingredients. We opted for a sumptuous combination of creamy scrambled eggs, fluffy brioche toast, and smoked salmon (+$8). You can also add other ingredients, such as sautéed mushrooms, sausages or bacon, to the breakfast platter, with additional top-up costs.

Triple Charcoal Burger slider 3.8/5

The Triple Charcoal Burger slider ($18) is a tantalising trio of mini burgers catering to diverse tastes. The first slider showcases a lightly crisp charcoal-battered fish fillet similar to the Fish & Chips that we had, and the second slider presents a flavourful crumbled chicken patty. In contrast, the third slider features a classic beef patty, though a tad on the dry side. These mini burgers are arranged on soft charcoal buns, providing a subtle yet striking contrast to the vibrant fillings.

Overall, Black & White Bistro offered a delightful dining experience with its innovative and diverse menu. The dishes showcased culinary excellence and attention to detail, from the refreshing Berry Fresh Mojito to the well-executed B&W Signature Fish & Chips. The chic ambience and attentive staff added to the overall enjoyment of the dining experience.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Black & White Bistro
Shaw Plaza
360 Balestier Rd
#01-25
Singapore 329783
Tel: +65 8043 4868
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Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Wed: 10am - 10pm
Thu-Sat: 10am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus number 145. Alight 5 stops later. Journey time about 15 minutes. Walk to destination. 
[Map]

Lai Bao @ Toa Payoh Lorong 1 - A New Affordable 1960s-inspired Zichar Stall

Lai Bao is a brand new 1960s inspired zichar stall at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 opened by the Baoshi F&B Management Pte Ltd. The zichar stall seeks to bring affordable Singaporean zichar cuisine to the masses with recipes passed down by their grandmas as well as family recipes from their childhood friends. Diners can look forward to a menu rooted in Chinese traditions but sprinkle with some unique twist.

Charcoal Silken Tofu 4/5

Charcoal seems to be the new trend for Chinese restaurants lately, and now we can even have it at the neighbourhood zichar stall. The Charcoal Silken Tofu ($5/$8/$10) modernise the classic dish, giving the soft silky tofu a contrasting layer of crispy charcoal-coasted exterior.

Old School Sweet & Sour Pork 3/5

Another classic dish that incorporates the charcoal powder is the Old School Sweet & Sour Pork ($8/$10/$12). I am not sure whether it is due to the black vinegar used or the charcoal powder, it lacked the zestiness I was expecting from a dish that I enjoy.

Duck Fried Teochew Duck Fritter 3.8//5

Both creamy in the interior and crispy on the exterior is another classic Teochew dish, Duck Fried Teochew Duck Fritter ($10). Smoked duck meat is mixed with hand-mashed yam and encased in deep-fried popiah skin.

Ginger Spring Chicken 4/5

A simple but yet tasty dish is the Ginger Spring Chicken ($6 half/ $12 whole). Not only is the chicken moist and juicy, the hand-cut ginger and garlic sauce gives it a subtle fragrance, allowing each bite to be savoured with relish.

Lai Bao Wok Fried Fine Bean 4.2/5

Lai Bao Wok Fried Fine Bean ($7/$9/$11) is a vegetable dish that is packed with textures and flavours. Stir-fried to a delightful crunch is the fine bean complemented by the crispy yam strips for extra bite. It is further flavoured by the dried cuttlefish, Chinese sausage and chye poh head for a fragrant finishing.

Crispy Fried Aubergine & Pork Floss 4/5

The Crispy Fried Aubergine & Pork Floss ($7/$9/$11) is a vegetable dish that will be enjoyed by both young and old. The aubergine or eggplant is thinly sliced, deep-fried and drizzled with savoury pork floss.

Grandma's Recipe Pork Belly 3.8/5

Braised over low heat until soft and tender are the mouth-watering Grandma's Recipe Pork Belly ($12). However, I felt that the braising sauce was lacking the richness and the robustness that I would seek for a tasty braised pork belly dish.

Lai Bao 13 Spices Black Pepper Crab 4.5/5

Not to be missed is Lai Bao 13 Spices Black Pepper Crab ( $30 for 1 Crab / $50 for 2 Crabs). Each crab weighs around 600-700g. Besides the peppery kick, the crustacean is elevated by an aromatic blend of 13 spices, allowing the sweetness of the crab meat to come through even more.

Seafood Lala Ying Yang Hor Fun 3.5/5

Good for sharing or as a one-dish meal is the Seafood Lala Ying Yang Hor Fun ($5/$7/$10). The hor fun is packed with wok hei, drenched in a light and sweet lala gravy. The rice noodle dish also comes with clams, prawns, fish slices and topped with deep-fried hor fun for that extra crunch. It is a hearty dish, but I would prefer the gravy to be heavier in flavour to match the smokiness of the wok's breath.

Sixties Fish Head Charcoal Steamboat (Grouper) 4.2/5

The highlight at Lai Bao has to be their Sixties Fish Head Charcoal Steamboat (Grouper $15/$25/$35, Snapper $10/$18/$24), using traditional recipes and cooking methods. The all-natural collagen soup is simmered over charcoal for 10 hours brimming with fresh ingredients such as hand-minced meat pie, cabbage, seaweed, yam, black fungus, cherry tomato and tofu.

Lai Bao
Blk 168 Toa Payoh Lorong 1
#01-1040
Singapore 310168
Tel: +65 62615825
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Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus 141 or 231. Alight one stop later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Rahmath Cheese Prata @ Toa Payoh Lorong 4 - A Yummy Find In Toa Payoh

Joining a Toa Payoh makan food trail earlier this year conducted by Misstamchiak, brought to my discovery of another good prata stall - Rahmath Cheese Prata. The stall is run by Mr Ali, who used to operate in Ang Mo Kio before relocating to the current place at Toa Payoh Lorong 4. He sells a total of 13 different types of prata, from savoury to sweet.

We ordered both the Plain and Egg Prata which is freshly cooked upon. I disliked having prata that has already been pre-cooked which is cold and stale.

Plain Prata 4.5/5

A minimum order of 2 is required for the Plain Prata ($1.80 for 2pc). The prata had a nice buttery aroma which is fluffy, doughy and slight crispiness on the exterior. It is the type of prata texture that I enjoy, not those that is overly crispy.

Egg Prata 4.5/5

The Egg Prata ($1.50) is as good too. The egg gave the prata an additional layer of texture and bite. Not forgetting the curry, dip into it for a complete enjoyment of these fried flatbread.

Even though the stall is opened until 4pm, it is available up to 130pm. After that the stall sells mee goreng. So if you want to try their prata, be early.


Rahmath Cheese Prata
Block 74 Market & Food Centre
Blk 74 Toa Payoh Lorong 4
#01-08
Singapore 310074
Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 6am - 4pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Walk towards Toa Payoh Library. Continue onwards to the main road (Toa Payoh Lorong 4). Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time 8 minutes. [Map]

Don Signature Crab @ Toa Payoh North - From Pie Club to Crab Party

For those working near China Square Central, you should be familiar with Don Signature Crab which was serving their unique crab beehoon soup from 2000 to 2013 before relocating to its current location at Toa Payoh North in March 2015. I will share will you more about Don, the founder at the end of the article but let us dig in to the food first.

Crab Beehoon Soup 4/5

There were four of us in total, so we decided to order a couple of crab dishes on the menu to try. We started with the Crab Beehoon Soup ($25 small). Served in a claypot to retain the heat, the soup base has a herbal taste from the dang gui. The crab is considered mid size, cooked together with some vegetables, ginger and yam. However we felt that the version still lose out the one from Mellben.

Black Pepper Crab Beehoon 3.8/5

For those that enjoys a peppery kick, the Black Pepper Crab Beehoon ($25 small) would be the choice. Plated in a pile of greens and generous serving of beehoon, it is good for 2 pax to share. I do enjoy the piquant kick but on the critic side, I could not really taste the flavour of the crustacean in the beehoon.

La La Prawn White Beehoon 4.2/5

Among the 3 crab dishes we ordered, my favourite is the La La Prawn White Beehoon ($15). While it may look similar to the black pepper dish, the sauce is actually different. The sauce is sweeter, creamier and more garlicky. I felt that it complemented the seafood excellently.

The man behind it is non other than Don himself, the founder of Don Pie. When I asked him about his pie business, he declined to comment further but I can sense some form of regret and sadness in his tone. What I understand is he as already sold his pie business and now focusing on his crab stall. Anyway if you do plan to check out the stall, the menu offers other items such as Chilli Crab, Cheese Crab, Crab Laksa


Don Signature Crab [CLOSED]
Blk 206 Toa Payoh North
#01-1197
Singapore 310206
Tel: +65 96916776
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Braddell (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 830pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Braddell MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to the road between block 109 and 107. Turn left and cut through the HDB estate. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]