Trovato @ Seletar Hills Estate (Jalan Selaseh) – Cosy Italian Restaurant With Italian Classics And Brick-Fired Pizza

Tucked in the serene Seletar Hills neighbourhood, Trovato is a casual, cosy Italian restaurant that serves a modern twist of dishes, pasta and freshly stretched brick-fired pizza.

Octopus A La Plancha 4.2/5

We started the meal with their antipasti of the Octopus A La Plancha ($28.90). The octopus legs were tender and chewy, packed with flavours from the briny squid ink aioli and pesto.

Trovato's Special 4.5/5

The unique brick-fired pizza selections present Trovato's Special ($35.90) served with a crispy charcoal pizza base, topped with chef's choice of ingredient selection of 4 different flavours, namely: Granchio Piccante (chilli crab), Prosciutto Rucola, Salmone Affumicato (smoked salmon) and Margherita. We enjoyed all the pizza flavours, especially the chilli crab, for a local twist on an Italian favourite.

Risotto Al Gamberi 4/5

The Risotto Al Gamberi ($25.90) features al dente, tender and creamy arborio rice cooked in a flavourful Italian tomato sauce, topped with fresh tiger prawns and scallops.

Croissant French Toast 4/5

They also offer a brunch menu on the weekends, available from 9am to 2.30pm. It includes a variety of breakfast items such as the Trovato's Full Breakfast, Italian Egg Benedicts, Fried Chicken on Toast and Smoked Salmon Bruschetta. We ordered the Croissant French Toast ($18.90), sliced in half and pan-fried to a soft and custardy texture akin to French toast, instead of using the usual brioche toast. It is then topped with berries, honey drizzle and fresh whipped cream to add some sweetness to the dish.

Words and photos 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.


Trovato
26 Jalan Selaseh
Singapore 808445
Tel: +65 88429826
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Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC, NE Line), Ang Mo Kio (NS Line), Yio Chu Kang (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 11am - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit B or E. Walk to bus stop at Serangoon MRT station (Stop ID 66351). Take bus number 70 Alight 12 stops later. Walk to Jalan Selaseh. Turn right onto Jalan Selaseh. Walk to destination. Journey time about 40 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to bus stop at Serangoon Bus Interchange (Stop ID 66009). Take bus number 103 Alight 14 stops later. Walk to Jalan Selaseh. Turn right onto Jalan Selaseh. Walk to destination. Journey time about 45 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop after Ang Mo Kio Interchange (Stop ID 54391) near block 711. Take bus number 50. Alight 14 stops later. Walk to Jalan Selaseh. Turn right onto Jalan Selaseh. Walk to destination. Journey time about 45 minutes. [Map]

4) Alight at Yio Chu Kang MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange (Stop ID 55509). Take bus number 70. Alight 13 stops later. Cross the road, walk to Jalan Selaseh. Walk to destination.Journey time about 45 minutes. [Map]

36 M.S. Handmade Yun Tun Noodle @ Seletar Hills Estate - Plump & Juicy Dumpling That Is Not To Be Missed

Located n the corner coffeeshop of the rather quiet Seletar Hills Estate is this unassuming stall, 36 M.S. Handmade Yun Tun Noodle. The stall sells both the char siew wanton mee and dumpling noodle.

Dumplng Noodle 4.2/5

I was told that the char siew wanton mee here is decent but the star is actually the Dumpling Noodle. The springy noodle which has a good bite to it is tossed in a sweet and savoury dark sauce that made it so deliciously good.

The other highlight is the plump and juicy handmade stuffed with minced pork. You get a burst of flavours accentuated by the tee poh in the stuffing mixture. This is so much better than their wanton which is rather small in size. By the way, the portion here is rather small. Hence for the big eater, you may need to have 2 bowls.

36 M.S. Handmade Yun Tun Noodle 
2 Jalan Salaseh
Singapore 808433
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC Line, NE Line), Seng Kang (NE Line), Yio Chu Kang (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun: 7am - 3pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to bus stop at Serangoon MRT station (Stop ID 66351). Take bus number 70. Alight 12 stops later. Walk to Jalan Salaseh. Walk to destination. Journey time about 30 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Seng Kang MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to bus stop at Seng Kang MRT station along Seng Kang East Way (Stop ID 67409). Take bus number 50. Alight 12 stops later. Cross the road. Turn left and walk to Jalan Salaseh. Walk to destination. Journey time about 30 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Yio Chu Kang MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange (Stop ID 55509). Take bus number 70. Alight 13 stops later.  Cross the road. Turn left and walk to Jalan Salaseh. Walk to destination. Journey time about 35 minutes. [Map]

Sumo Big Prawn Noodle @ Blk 628 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 Food Centre - The Ultimate Lobster Prawn Noodle Soup

A new sumo champion has been crowned in Ang Mo Kio Ave 4. Within a month, SUMO Big Prawn Noodle has wrestled its way into the food scene with food lovers travelling all the way from different corners of Singapore, queuing up to an hour to savour the champion's prawn noodle.

When I reached the stall on a Sunday afternoon, there was already a snaking queue. It took me slightly more than an hour to be able to get my food. There was 5 young men manning the stall, each has their own role and responsibility. One is in charge of the cashier and taking order, one is responsible of preparing the order and cooking the noodle, while another one is in charge of cooking the broth together with the crustaceans. The rest of the team is busy preparing the other ingredients for the food.

Lobster  & Big Prawn Noodle Soup 4.8/5

Lobster  & Big Prawn Noodle Soup 4.8/5

With a sip of soup of the Lobster & Big Prawn Soup ($24.90), I was overwhelmed by the richness and robustness of the broth. It was complex, sweet and carried the aroma of Chinese wine. It is packed with rich flavours that complement the yellow perfectly. The price may be a bit steep but it comes with a whole lobster with sweet bouncy flesh, 2 big prawns and la la clams.

Crayfish Noodle Soup  4.5/5

Crayfish Noodle Soup 4.5/5

Having queued for slightly more than an hour, I have to make my wait worthwhile. Hence I also ordered the Crayfish Noodle Soup ($13). The bowl of noodle soup is brimming with ingredients. There were 3 crayfish sliced into halves, 2 big prawns and la la clams. While the body of the broth is still the same, I thought there was a slight different. The soup was not as sweet as the lobster's one but it still had the same richness and robustness. I am not sure whether there was a bit of inconsistency here but the used of Chinese wine was a bit heavy in this bowl.

Besides the 2 dishes that I have ordered, Sumo Big Prawn also offers Prawn Noodle Soup ($5), Big Prawn Noodle Soup ($8) and Lobster Noodle Soup ($18.90) on their men. Guest will have a choice of yellow noodle or beehoon. I would highly recommend you to give Sumo Big Prawn noodle a try if you have not done so. It is worth the queue and calories. For me, there is even a more fulfilling mission to spread the words in support of these young gentlemen willing to labour in the heat and confined space. There is hope for our hawker culture. Ganbatte!


Sumo Big Prawn Noodle
Blk 628 Food Centre
Blk 628 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4
#01-72
Singapore 560628
Tel: +65 92992621
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Yio Chu Yang (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Yio Chu Yang MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Ang Mo Kio Ave 6. Cross the road. Cut across the housing estate and walk to Ang Mo Kio Street 61. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Yio Chu Yang MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Yio Chu Yang bus interchange (Stop ID 55509). Take bus number 549. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Zhen Ming Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle (真鸣肉骨虾面) @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 4

The hunt for good food brought me to this humble hawker stall in Ang Mo Kio Ave 4. Zhen Ming Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle (真鸣肉骨虾面) used to be at Tampines before moving to Serangoon and finally settled down at Mayflower Food Centre. I have to be upfront that their version of prawn noodle is not of the robust prawny type. Painstakingly simmering the broth for at least a good 6 hours with pork ribs, pig skins, red dates, prawn shells, a hen, Malaysian black sugarcane and some seasoning. Unlike most other stalls, the stall owner decided to substitute rock sugar with the Malaysian black sugarcane to give his broth a more natural sweetness.

Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle Dry 4/5

The bowl of Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle Dry ($3/4/5) comes with slices of fish cake, lean meat, pork ribs and prawns. Ask for some fried shallots to further enhance the enjoyment of the springy noodle.

Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle Soup 4.5/5

The star for me has to be this bowl of Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle Soup ($3/4/5) which made me came all the way to try it. Taking a sip of the hot pipping soup, I totally understood why the foodie kakis having been raving about it. In a way the soup was robust and packed with flavours. There is this balance and refinement in the soup that was kind of addictive. Spice up a bit with some chilli power to enhance the flavour further.

Pork Tail Soup 4.5/5

If you really like the the painstakingly simmered bowl of soup, then you should order a bowl of the Pork Tail Soup to fully appreciate the full bodied flavour together with pieces of the wobbling collagen and tender pig tail.

During the visit, we also met another family who came all the way to tried the prawn noodle. Further conversation revealed that they are also prawn noodle hawker in the same trade at another hawker centre. They heard about Zhen Ming, tired it and like it. I need not have to say more when even fellow prawn noodle hawker gave the acknowledgement.


Zhen Ming Pork Ribs Prawn Noodle (真鸣肉骨虾面) 
Mayflower Market & Food Centre
Blk 162 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4
#01-04
Singapore 560162
Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio (NS Line), Yio Chu Kang (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 1pm (until Sold Out)
(Closed on Wed)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange (Stop ID 54009). Take bus number 269. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

1) Alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road and walk to bus stop opposite Ang Mo Kio MRT station (Stop ID54269). Take bus number 76 or 268. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Yio Chu Kang MRT station. Take Exit A, B or C. Walk to Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange (Stop ID 55509). Take bus number 76 or 549.  Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

Gim Tim Restaurant (锦珍酒楼) @ Ang Mo Kio Ave 4

Although I stayed quite near Ang Mo Kio, I have not really managed to explore the area much. I was quite suprise when I get to know there is a Chinese restaurant in the neighbourhood of Ang Mo Kio Ave 4. I remembered passing the area a couple of times but I have never noticed there was a Chinese restaurant until my recent visit to Gim Tim Restaurant (锦珍酒楼). Gim Tim has been around since 1975. They have 2 more outlets in Imperial Court Shark's Fin Restaurant at Grassroots' Club and Tim Palace at Toa Payoh Safra Club. Gim Tim is also one of the pioneer in the mobile kitchen arena, it has a fleet to cater for outdoor function.

To cut the story short, I was at Gim Tim restaurant to reminisce the good old days with a selection of artisan traditional food taking my taste buds on a nostalgic journey.

Fish Maw Soup 3.8/5

With more and more diners avoiding eating shark fins, restaurant has started to substitute it with Fish Maw Soup which I personally felt is a good alternative. The sumptuous bowl of fish maw soup is loaded with many ingredients such as the crab meat, mushroom, shrimp, and fish maw. Add a bit of vinegar and pepper, it is as delicious as a bowl of shark's fin soup.

Prawn Roll 4.8/5

I always have this doubt whether I have Prawn Roll. Why is it call prawn roll when the filling mixture has more minced meat and hardly traceable prawn in it. At Gim Tim, a must order dish definitely is their prawn roll. Unlike other places, the filling is white in colour. Chef told me that he used only prawns, pork fat and waterchest nut for the filling only. That explains the colouring. Unlike other places where the fillings were mostly minced pork causing the prawn rolls to be darker in colour.

Fried Fresh Scallops with Macadamia Nuts 3/5

The Fried Fresh Scallops with Macadamia Nuts is quite a classic dish which is quite commonly served in wedding banquet. I love my greens and they were cooked perfectly still retaining that crunchy bite. However the scallops came across as a bit rubbery.

Homemade Beancurd with Melon 4.2/5

Food does not only needs to taste good but it has to look good too. The sight of the beautifully plated Homemade Beancurd with Melon already whetted up my appetite and I could not wait to dig into it. The homemade beancurd was really excellent with its smooth and silky texture.

Sea Cucumber Duck 3.8/5

There was hit and misses for the Sea Cucumber Duck. The star went to the delectable duck meat that fell of the bone with ease. The disappointment was the sea cucumber that probably needed a bit more time in the cooking.

Tapioca Kueh with Spicy Shrimp 4/5

I was told that the Tapioca Kueh with Spicy Shrimp is a very traditional Hokkien dish that is not commonly served at restaurants nowadays. At first glance, it looked like a plate of fried carrot cake. This is my first time having the tapioca kueh which has a very chewy texture. The texture resembled that of those pearls in bubble tea. The more you chew on it the more you get to like it.

Pork Belly Bun 3/5

Another of my favourite Hokkien dish is the Pork Belly Bun. However the version at Gim Tim was not as flavoursome or tender as I would have like.

Young Coconut Pudding 4.5/5

The refreshing Young Cocount Pudding is probably one of the best desserts I ever had. Using the coconut water, it was made into a pudding. Once the pudding is formed, a layer of mango puree is poured into the coconut husk and topped with diced fruits. The interesting combination was so good that I could not help going back for more. Whats more the coconut flesh can be enjoyed too.

Yam Paste 4/5

We have the Yam Paste to wrap up the dinner. For health conscious reason, the restaurant has stopped using pork lard for the yam paste. It was nice but lacked the aroma of the unhealthy porky fat.

This Chinese restaurant in the hood is helmed by Chef Lai Yong Meng that has 20 over years of experience. With vast experience under his belt, diners at Gim Tim will enjoy a quintessential selection of traditional Chinese food. In conjunction of the year end promotion, Gim Tim is offering a 8 course Chinese Set Meal (for 10 person) at a affordable price of $338 excluding GST.

Gim Tim Restaurant (锦珍酒楼)
Blk 157 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4
#01-546
Singapore 560157
Tel: +65 64597766
Facebook:
Website: http://www.gimtim.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Yio Chu Kang (NS Line), Ang Mo Kio (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 11am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Yio Chu Kang MRT station. Take Exit A, B or C. Walk to Yio Chu Kang Bus Interchange (Stop ID B55509). Take bus number 76. Alight 4 stops later. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange (Stop ID B54009). Take bus number 269. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 13 minutes. [Map]

Canadian Pizza Dine-In Cafe @ Jalan Kayu

Canadian Pizza is know for its 2 for 1 pizza delivery at 6241 0241 but little may you know that Canadian Pizza actually has a Dine-In Cafe along the same stretch of road at Jalan Kayu. Opened back in December 2011, the Dine-In cafe offers an extensive menu besides pizzas.

The Dine-In cafe has both a alfresco and air conditioned seating. It is a halal certified restaurant that offers an extensive menu, not just only pizza.

Root Beer Float 4/5

Started the meal with a mug of classic Root Beer Float ($4.50). You can also ask for Pepsi or 7-Up if you do not like Root Beer. For cold beverages, Mocktails, juices and soft drinks are also available.

Smoked Salmon Salad 3.8/5

The plating for the Smoked Salmon Salad ($8.80) may not look elegant but it was good. The used of fresh ingredients such as onion, lettuce, black olive, tomato and bread crumbs was packed with flavours, a healthy but yet flavourful salad to start with.

Tomato and Mushroom Soup 4/5

The Tomato Soup ($4.50) and Mushroom Soup ($4.50) was surprising creamy, tasty and robust. Like my dining partner Melissa commented, the soups were much better than a popular family restaurant in Singapore which I can't agreed more.

Grilled Cajun Fish 4.2/5

The Grilled Cajun Fish ($16.90) came with salad, fries and lime mayonnaise. The grilled fish was extremely flavourful and I won't mind going back for more. As I gathered my thoughts composing the post, I realized the grilled fish was sliced into strips. Visually I think people would expect a whole piece of fish fillet so they don't feel short changed.

Baked Macaroni 3/5

The Baked Macaroni ($9.50) unfortunately was a let down. Though the macaroni was nicely cooked, they were kind of bland.

Fresh Sage Sausage 4.2/5

The Freash Sausage ($13.80) came a bit on the salty side but if paired with the mashed potatoes and sauce, it actually had a good balanced of flavours. It was one of my favourite dish at Canadian Pizza Dine-In Cafe.

Crazy Canadian Stacker 4/5

The Crazy Canadian Stacker ($14.90) came with double patties, grilled bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion rings, cheese and fries. The huge and juicy burger was packed with flavours and it was not going to be easy for one with a small appetite.

Peri Peri Chicken 3.8/5

I was worry that the Peri Peri Chicken ($16) may be too hot for my taste buds but they were quite mild and easily for the palate. The chicken has a nice crisp on the outside while tender inside. Served with fries and salad.

Steak Sandwich 4/5

Stacked with grilled beef, onion rings, lettuce, tomatoes and brown sauce, the Steak Sandwich ($13.90) was worth the penny. The perfectly grilled beef impressed me and well paired with the special brown sauce.

Brownie with Ice Cream 3/5

Bread Pudding 3/5

Apple Crumble 3/5

Besides the extensive mains that are available on the Canadian Pizza Dine In cafe, it also offers some classic desserts for the sweet tooth. We tried the Brownie, Bread Pudding and Apple Crumble. Unfortunately I didn't get to note down the price. The dessert was nothing to shout for but decently good.

In a small way I am quite excited about Canadian Pizza Dine-In Cafe. The mains are value for money and it is currently the only place you get your Canadian Pizza prepared by the chef upon order. What's more, the mains are available for delivery too. At the moment, the cafe is having a Friday night special with $40 spent customer gets a free regular pizza.


Canadian Pizza Dine-In Cafe
248 Jalan Kayu
Singapore 799472
Tel: +65 65563588
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/canadianpizza.jlnkayu
Nearest MRT: SengKang (NE Line), Serangoon (NE Line, CC Line), Yio Chu Kang (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thur: 11am - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at SengKang MRT station. Walk to SengKang LRT station. Take LRT to Thanggam Station (SW4). Walk to destination about 240 meter away. Journey time about 9 minutes.

2) Alight at SengKang MRT station. Walk to bus stop at block 323B (Stop ID 67449). Take bus no. 85. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 13 minutes.

3) Alight at SengKang MRT station. Walk to SengKang bus interchange. Take bus no. 86. Alight 9 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 23 minutes.

4) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Walk to Serangoon bus interchange. Take bus no. 103. Alight 18 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 27 minutes.

5) Alight at Yio Chu Kang MRT station. Walk to bus stop opposite Yio Chu Kang MRT station (Stop ID 55181). Take bus no. 86. Alight 13 stops later. Journey time about 19 minutes.

Imperial Court Shark's Fin Restaurant @ Grassroots Club Yio Chu Kang

I was invited to a wedding dinner at the Grassroots Club Yio Chu Kang. I have to admit I was not expecting much from a neighbourhood restaurant. I was in for a surprise. The food was good and of great standard.

The Buddha Jump Over the Wall impressed me the most. The ingredients were well stewed and melted in my mouth. In the pot, there were shark fin, abalone, fish maw, mushroom, chicken legs, scallops, jihua ham and sea cucumber. I even helped myself to a second bowl.

The Pipa Duck was very good too. The duck skin was very crispy. The duck meat was roasted to perfection and the special sauce was an excellent combination for the duck meat.

I was a bit disappointed with the lobster deluxe combination which should have more lobster meat. The yam paste was a bit watery to my liking. The fried rice with diced abalone wrapped in lotus leaf should use glutinous rice instead.

Lobster Deluxe Combination 3.8/5

Buddha Jump Over the Wall

Buddha Jump Over the Wall

My Bowl of Buddha Jump Over the Wall 4.5/5

Scallop Prepared in Two Ways 4/5

Steamed Red Grouper in Soya Sauce 3.8/5

PiPa Duck with Chef Sauce 4.5/5

Deep Fried King Prawn with Thousand Island Cream 4/5

Fried Rice with Diced Abalone Wrapped in Lotus Leaf 3.5/5

Yam Paste with Gingko Nuts 3.5/5

Imperial Court Shark's Fin Restaurant
The Grassroots Club
190 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8
#03-01
Nearest MRT: Yio Chu Kang, NS Line