Cat & The Fiddle Cafe - Unveils Its First Cafe At Woods Square

Cat & the Fiddle is pleased to welcome its first café at Woods Square on 9 March 2021! The café will offer a complete range of the brand's well-loved cheesecakes and NEW outlet-exclusive items such as Cheesy Soft Serve and homemade Waffles complemented with aromatic brews from Tad Coffee Company.

Milo Dinosaur 4/5

We had the Milo Dinosaur (Cone: $6.90; Waffles: $12.90) featuring rich, and velvety Cheesy Soft Serve atop fluffy waffles. It is then gloriously cloaked in Milo powder, Milo cereal and chocolate syrup. It is delicately sweet, wonderfully smooth with a hint of savoury. The soft serve is available in a cone or served atop light and crisp waffles that are freshly made-to-order with founder Daniel Tay's proprietary recipe.

Gula Me Gusta cake 4/5

The entire range is available, including favourites such as Gula Me Gusta (Pandan Gula Melaka), Charred Eclipse (Burnt cheesecake) and The Emperor's Romance (Lychee Rose), available in slices and whole cakes. Customers may also pick up their online orders from the café. We had the Gula Me Gusta Cake ($5.90), reminiscent of the traditional ondeh-ondeh. The luscious pandan-infused cream cheese sits on a base of sweet and savoury gula melaka sponge cake, topped with warm and smoky gula melaka glaze as well as a generous sprinkle of grated coconut.

The café offers a comprehensive list of cuppas and bottled cold brews prepared with beans meticulously roasted locally by Tad, as well as a select range of teas and flavoured Drinking Chocolate. We had their Hazelnut Cafe Latte ($6.50) and White Bottled Cold Brew ($5.80).

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.


Cat & the Fiddle Cafe
Solo 2, Woods Square
8 Woodlands Square
#01-15
Singapore 737713
Tel: +65 62870077
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Woodlands (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Woodlands MRT station. Take Exit 1 or 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

COMO Cuisine @ Dempsey - A Collection Of Global Cuisines Across COMO Properties And COMO Shambala

Mentioned COMO Cuisine at Dempsey, many will think that the food here is about wellness. It is actually not that. The menu at COMO Cuisine comprises of signatures dishes handpicked from across the COMO properties and COMO Shambala. It is a unique culinary journey where you can experience a collection of global cuisines sans having to get on a plane, all in one place.

Bhutanese Momos 3.5/5

We started with some Bhutanese Momos ($12++). At a glance, it looks like Chinese dumpling, but the dough is thicker, made from a combination of buckwheat flour and wheat flour. It is quite substantial, filled with pork, garlic, coriander and Szechuan pepper. I was actually disappointed that the accompanying Ezay chilli sauce did not use Bhutanese sun-dried chilli powder but Korean chilli powder which lacks the spicy kick.

Mangrove Crab Salad 4.5/5

The Mangrove Crab Salad ($24++) may look a little dull in colour but don't be deceived by it. It is a colourful firework of flavours from the fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and palm sugar. This is COMO Cuisine's interpretation of Thai Som Tum with fresh-picked mud crabs tossed in a salad of green mango, starfruit, cherry tomatoes, beansprouts, mint, coriander, Thai basil, fresh coconut slices and cashew nuts.

Spicy Prawn Relish 4/5

The Spicy Prawn Relish ($12++) is not spicy at all. It is like a bowl of chilli soup with chopped local tiger prawns and grilled corns. What is more interesting is the accompanying starfruit, guava, cucumber crudites and house-made rice crackers for dipping into the relish.

Golden Beetroot 4/5

A clean and delicious tasting dish is the Golden Beetroot ($20++). The heirloom beetroot is roasted in oil and vinegar, and served with Australian goat's feta cheese and finished with poppy seed dressing.

Lobster Biryani 4.5/5

The Lobster Biryani ($48++) really comes as a surprise for me. I thought COMO cuisine is all about the western fare, but this really was unexpected. I like how it is cooked with a house-made naan covering the bowl of basmati rice, locking in all the flavours. On the side, we have raita and guava pomegranate salad, for a balanced diet.

Tandoor Cauliflower 4.2/5

I guess COMO Cuisine never failed to surprise me with the Tandoor Cauliflower ($22++). I mean who will skewered chunks of cauliflower and roasted them in tandoor oven. What brings the dish together is the lemon dressing, giving it the needed acidity on top of the smokiness.

Pappardelle 4.2/5

Freshly made daily is the Pappardelle ($30++) that is cooked to a beautiful al dente bite. I love my pasta saucy and hence the duck ragout was a match in heaven for me. This is further topped with radicchio, basil and shaved pecorino.

Lamb Shank Massaman 4.5/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Lamb Shank Massaman ($45++) served with naan bread and lightly pickled pineapple and cucumber. The lamb shank is cooked to fork-tender, falling off the bone with ease. It is so good that I could not stop going back for more naan to mop up the sauce.

Rich Chocolate Cake 4.2/5

The Rich Chocolate Cake ($14++) is COMO Cuisine's take on the chocolate florentine. The tart base is made from digestive biscuits and then covered with Michel Cluizel 70% chocolate. It is then served with rum-marinated cherries, fresh berries, coffee caramel, mascarpone chantilly infused vanilla bean and edible gold leaf.

Mocha Soft Serve 4/5

Subject to daily flavour, we had the Mocha Soft Serve ($10++). Who can resist a soft, creamy and refreshing soft served to wrap up dinner? It actually tastes like milo soft serve.

Jackfruit Pudding 4.2/5

Another beautiful dessert on the menu is the Jackfruit Pudding ($14++). The soft and moist ginger jackfruit pudding is served warm and topped with fresh jackfruit, passionfruit and coconut slivers. This is complemented by a scoop of house-made jaggery ice cream

Note: This is an invited tasting.


COMO Cuisine
Dempsey Hill
Block 18A Dempsey Road
Singapore 249677
Tel: 1800 3046688
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Holland Village (CC Line), Farrer Road (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast
Mon-Fri: 8am - 12pm
Lunch
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 3pm
Afternoon Menu
Daily: 3pm - 6pm
Dinner
Sun-Thu: 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat, PH: 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Orchard Boulevard (Stop ID 09022). Take bus number 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk to the round about near block 17 and 18. Walk to destination. Journey time 30 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Block 12 (Stop ID 11401). Take bus 106. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk to the round about near block 17 and 18. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Farrer Road MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Farrer Road MRT station (Stop ID 11119). Take bus number 174 or 564. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk to the round about near block 17 and 18. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

Japan Gourmet Hall SORA @ Changi Airport Terminal 1 - Showcasing Dishes From Fukuoka, Hokkaido and Kanagawa

Japan Gourmet Hall SORA has opened a new outlet at Changi Airport Terminal 1. Now it has 2 outlets at both Changi Airport Terminal 1 and 2. The new outlet at Terminal 1 houses three restaurants - Ikkousha, Yoshimi and Megumi Maru, showcasing Japanese dishes from three prefectures (Fukuoka, Hokkaido and Kanagawa).

Special Tonkotsu Ramen 4.2/5

First stop is Ikkousha from Fukuoka that is known for its Yatai-style ramen. The chain started in March 2004, and now it has 62 outlets in the world. Over at Singapore, one can savour exclusive dishes prepared in Yatai-style such as the Special Tonkotsu Ramen ($18.70), Special Red Chilli Ramen ($20.90) and Special Black Garlic Ramen ($20.90) and more. I tried the Special Tonkotsu Ramen, which comes in a bowl of silky and milky tonkotsu broth, made by simmering pork bones for many hours. It is lighter and less salty compared to many other ramen places. What impressed us is the beautifully boiled char siu that complements the bowl of ramen.

Kaisen Maze Don 4/5

Next stop is Megumi Maru, Singapore's first-ever maze don concept created by Misaki Megumi Suisan. We tried both the Kaisen Maze Don ($18.80) and Aburitoro Maze Don ($35.10). The Kaisen Maze Don is an assorted poke bowl comprising akami, salmon, boiled prawn, unagi, takuan, onsen tamago and sushi rice. The star has to be the uni dressing, a combination of sea urchin and shoyu, that binds all the ingredients together.

Aburitoro Maza Don 4/5

For those that are not into raw food, there is the Aburitoro Maze Don. The otoro is flame seared and perched on a bed of sushi rice. It is accompanied with a variety of healthy vegetables, like ladyfinger and purple cabbage, with an onsen egg capping the line-up.

Maguro Mentai Roll 3.5/5

Good for sharing is their maki rolls. I had their Maguro Mentai Roll ($15.90). I think anything mentaiko works wonder, and this is harmonised by the refreshing cucumber. Other crowd pleasers include salmon cheese roll, caterpillar roll, anago roll and more.

Pork Loin Katsu Set 3/5

The third and last concept at SORA Terminal 1 is katsu curry specialist Yoshimi. The restaurant has over 19 outlets in Japan, and this is the first time opening an outlet outside Japan. We started with the Pork Loin Katsu Set ($23.80) which comes with a bowl of miso soup, rice and cabbage.

Mille-feuille Katsu Set 4/5

Compared to the pork loin katsu set, I would prefer the Mille-feuille Katsu Set ($26.80) which boasts 16 layers of pork. It is more tender than the pork loin. A worthy note is the delicious and fragrant curry that consists of over 15 herbs and spices blend. It complements the pearly Japanese rice excellently.

Omurice Curry 3.8/5

For the Omurice Curry ($16), it has both vegetarian and non-vegetarian version. I personally prefer the non-vegetarian version as the curry is more robust with the beef stock in it. Not to forget the fluffy egg dome that conceals the Japanese rice in it.

Mixed Berry Pancake 4/5

If you have a sweet tooth, Yoshimi is the only concept that offers desserts on their menu at the terminal 1 outlet. The Mixed Berry Pancake ($19.80) is soft and fluffy, with the right balance of sweetness from the whipped cream and acidity from the mixed berry compote. If you have this too heavy, you can also grab a Hokkaido Soft-serve Ice Cream ($6.90) to go.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Japan Gourmet Hall SORA
Changi Airport Terminal 1
80 Airport Boulevard
#03-21
Singapore 819642
Tel: +65 6242 9087
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to sky train. Take the sky train to Terminal 1. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Chico Loco @ Amoy Street - A New Concept By The Loco Group Focusing On Spit Roasted Chicken

Chico Loco at Amoy Street is the latest concept by The Loco Group - casual Mexican spit-roasted chicken joint that serves locally farmed chickens which are raised with an organic diet, plus probiotics! Healthy but dirty as what Chico Loco would like to describe their food, bringing the chickens a secret house blend of 11 herbs and spices including quintessentially Mexican ingredients like achiote, dried oregano and mustard powder before sending them off into the spit roaster. And the verdict?

Spit Roasted Chicken 3.8/5

Even against the exposed brick walls, terracotta tiles, the Spit Roasted Chicken (Quarter $9/Half $17/Whole $32) is not as 'dirty' as I thought it will be. Rustic perhaps. But if you add on the funky sides and incredible sauces, it is a different story. Homemade sauces are laborious tasks, so at $2 each is reasonable to me. Furthermore, each sauce is so punchy and full of kicks that you don't really need to soak your meat in it. Smokey Chipotle BBQ would be a safe bet, but what stood out for me is the Habanero & Mango, a fruity sauce with a fiery kick. The Chimichurri Yoghurt is superb with their lamb shoulder. All sauces and dressings are made with avocado oil if that is ever your concern.

Dry Rubbed Lamb Shoulder 3/5

Chico Loco also offers Dry Rubbed Lamb Shoulder (125g for $12/250g for $23) as well, which is less commonly offered elsewhere. What we had was excellent in terms of its flavours, but the texture was a tad mushy. I reckon it goes better in their Lamb Burrito ($16), which is a better option for a quick lunch.

Guacamole 4/5

Chicoslaw 4/5

Yes, you do need sides to accompany your meats, or is it the other way round? The sides intrigued me much more. I have no complaints with the creamy yet zesty Guacamole with Corn Chips ($7), or the Somtum inspired Chicoslaw ($6) which caught my attention the moment I set my eyes on the menu. Always up for one! Not to be missed it their mouthwatering Street Corn ($6), glazed with chipotle mayo, cheese and lime. Each corn kernel was plump and juicy. But I think the corn is prepared steamed rather than grilled, and charred edges would have elevated it up a notch.

Mexican Mixta 4.5/5

All the meats and hefty dishes such as the Huge Chicken Taco or Buttermilk Chicken Burger might just overshadow this humble green Mexican Mixta ($11). Overflowing with textures rendered from mouth filling avocado slices, crisp romaine lettuce, chunky cucumber, nutty activated pepitas and crunchy tortilla strips, the fat corn kernels made it even more pleasurable. Even the yoghurt - based ranch dressing, enlivened with dills and herbs, was yummy on its own.

Super Natural Coconut Soft Serve 3.5/5

Their dessert goes really well with the entire 'dirty health' concept. Unlike some coconut ice creams which are sickly sweet with a thin consistency, this Super Natural Coconut Soft Serve ($6) is dense with a sweet fragrance of coconut. All the toppings seem really interesting ($1), so to complete the tropical feel, we had fresh pineapple and agave. I would advise against adding the agave as it tends to overpower the ice cream.

For Snacks, we also had a Mexican Prawn Toast ($13). I ever had one in Melbourne that comes with tamarind sauce which pairs reasonably well with the prawn mousse, but Chico uses chilli, salsa macha and a slightly acidic pickled cucumber, which overwhelms the mousse.

Given the vibe and atmosphere, it is kind of hard to resist the Loco Group’s brand - new draught beers inspired by trips to Mexico and a selection of over 30 craft beers. Happy Hour takes place from 5pm to 7pm on weekdays.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Chico Loco
102 Amoy Street
Singapore 069922
Tel: +65 97387828 (Whatsapp Only)
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours
Mon-Thu: 8am - 10pm
Fri: 8am - 12midnight
Sat: 5pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

HEYTEA @ Clarke Quay - Opens 2nd Outlet With 4-Exclusive Alcoholic Creations

The popular China Number 1 contemporary tea connoisseur and the original inventor of cheezo tea HEYTEA has opened a second outlet in Clarke Quay. The new outlet reflects a lighthouse theme design inspired by the history of the maritime trade at Clarke Quay.

The latest outlet also comes with an in-store tea experience laboratory TEA GEEK BAR. Tea-baristas at Tea Geek Bar, upgrades the tea drinking experience of Singaporeans with 6 brand new alcoholic tea creations inclusive of 4 Singapore exclusive: 2 alcoholic tea creation and 2 alcoholic ice creams.

The Royal's Romance

The 2 Singapore-exclusive alcoholic tea creations are The Royal's Romance and Scarlet's Heart. The Royal's Romance ($22) is a stellar combination of vodka and osmanthus oolong, laced with a sprig of thyme and coupled with a splash of zest from fresh lemons. The summer cocktail is light and refreshing. Perfect for the humid weather in Singapore.

Scarlet's Heart

The other Singapore-exclusive alcoholic concoction is the Scarlet's Heart ($16). It is a refreshing watermelon-pink tipple topped off with a layer of fomay egg white. The combination of fresh fruits, pineapple pulps, cognac brandy and jasmine green tea give the drink a silky texture and sweet mellow flavours.

Singapore Sling

 The other 2 Singapore-exclusive alcoholic creations is the Singapore Sling ($5.50) and Guinness ($4.50) soft serve. The iconic Singapore sling cocktail is transformed into an alluring blush-pink soft serve. As for the Guinness soft serve, it has a malty Guinness flavour that goes well with the refreshing oolong tea ice cream.

Salted Egg Yolk Ice Cream

If you are not into alcohol, there is another Singapore-exclusive ice cream - Salted Egg Yolk Ice Cream ($4.80). It has a very subtle salted egg flavour infused in the creamy swirls. It is more sweet than savoury.

Right across the Tea Geek Bar is where you can get your non-alcoholic tea drinks such as their popular Cheezo Teas, Fruity Cheezo Teas and Bobo.

Duo Bobo Milk 

The Duo Bobo Milk ($5.5) has a fragrant brown sugar taste, soft chewy bobo pearls infused with sweetness from the brown sugar. The drink is capped with a creamy milk foam, sprinkled with brown sugar and torched to give it a smoky caramalized flavour. It is pretty enjoy. It will be perfect if the brown sugar aroma is stronger.

Located amidst the bustling bar scene at Clarke Quay, unlike all other HEYTEA outlets, this outlet opens at 12pm and closes as late as 1am into the night to cater to all the party lovers. Its well-thought-out opening hours fits perfectly with the Singapore drinking culture, especially when it is located in Clarke Quay.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


HEYTEA
Clarke Quay
3A River Valley Road
#01-06
Singapore 179020
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
12pm - 1am

Direction: 
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT Station. Take Exit A. Turn right and down River Valley Road. Turn right onto Tan Tye Place. Walk to the end of the road. Turn left onto Clark Quay. Walk to destination. Journey time bout 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit C or G. Walk to the river front. Turn left and walk down the river. Cross the bridge. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Spinelli Coffee @ Tampines Hub - Very First Outlet In The Heartland

Spinelli Coffee has opened its very first suburban outlet in the heartland at Tampines Hub. The newest outlet is located near the library side, directly opposite NTUC income. It has both air conditioned and outdoor sitting area.

Ice Mocha, Iced Latte 4/5

Matcha T-Twist 4/5

The weather has been extremely hot lately, and what better way to cold down at the cafe with a cold drink. A few recommend choices would be the Ice Mocha, Ice Latte and Iced Matcha T-Twist. An interesting twist is the matcha t-twist, which is a blend of matcha powder with cranberries. The combination of bitterness and sourness surprisingly works harmoniously together.

Quinoa Salad Bowl 3.5/5

For the health conscious eater. there is a number of salad bowls at Spinelli Coffee. One of these is the Quinoa Salad Bowl ($9.80). The bowl comes filled with fresh crunchy greens, sweet tomatoes and quinoa patties. I love the roasted sesame sauce that is drizzled on top, boosting a flavourful finishing.

Bagel Tomate Olive 3.8/5

I am not a bagel person as I dislike the dense texture of the dough. However the Bagel Tomate Olive ($4.50) turns out pretty good. The open-faced bagel topped with cheesy pizza toppings is soft and fluffy.

Beef Lasagna 3/5

As for the Beef Lasagna ($10.80), I didn't quite enjoy it. While the flavours from the cheese and beef are spot on, I felt that the pasta sheets are too soft, without texture. This doesn't help with the layer of gooey stretchy cheese on top. it just made the whole dish collapsed into a pool of softness.

Devil's Chocolate Cake 4.2/5, Carrot Cake 2.8/5, Strawberry Shortcake 3.8/5

If you are at Spinelli Coffee just to chill, you may want to order some cakes to go along with your drinks. They have a number of cakes such as the Strawberry Shortcake ($6.80), Carrot Cake and Devil's Chocolate Cake ($5.20). If you like something light, then I would recommend the strawberry shortcake, if not my personal favourite the the rich Devil's Chocolate Cake.

Cold Brew Ice Cream 3.8/5

Another first at Spinelli Coffee besides opening its first suburban outlet is the introduction of their freshly churned Cold Brew Ice Cream ($4.20). The ice cream is infused with the rich coffee aroma on top of its smooth creamy swirls.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Spinelli Coffee
Our Tampines Hub
1 Tampines Walk
#01-K8
Singapore 528523
Facebook
Website
Nearest: Tampines (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 8am - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 8am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Tampines MRT station (DT Line). Take Exit F. Walk down Tampines Central 2 road to Tampines Ave 5. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tampines MRT station (EW Line). Take Exit C. Walk down Tampines Central road to Tampines Central 6 road. Walk to NTUC Income Tampines Junction. Walk to traffic junction of Tampines Ave 5 and Tampines Ave 4. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]