Showing posts with label Chee Cheong Fan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chee Cheong Fan. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

The Hainan Story Coffee House @ Nex - Opens First Coffee House Concept In Serangoon

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The Hainan Story has launched its fourth location in the heartlands of Serangoon at NEX Shopping Mall. It is also their first-ever coffeehouse concept - The Hainan Story Coffee House that will serve a selection of new exclusive dishes alongside classic favourites.

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Hainanese Ah Mai’s Chee Cheong Fun 4/5

The Hainanese Ah Mai's Chee Cheong Fun ($7.80) features smooth rice rolls drenched in a spicy, savoury blend of four sauces: chee cheong fun, rojak, green chilli as well as light soya sauce. It also comes with fishballs and crispy wanton.

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Hainanese Pig’s Trotter Assam Curry Noodle 4/5

The Hainanese Pig's Trotter Assam Curry Noodle ($9.80) consists of tender pork trotter, fish cake, hard-boiled egg, and yellow noodles in a sour-spicy assam curry gravy. It has a tangy, full-bodied flavour with subtle spicy notes.

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Childhood Fried Chicken Wing 3.8/5

The Childhood Fried Chicken Wing ($2.80/pc) boosts tender and juicy meat. They were pretty standard, though I wished the wings could be meatier.

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Hae Bee Hiam Spaghetti 4.2/5

Another must-try dish is the Hae Bee Hiam Spaghetti with Hainanese Fried Pork Cutlet ($12.80). A fusion pasta for those who are a fan of the Hae Bee Hiam (Dried Shrimps Spicy Sambal), the flavour was pronounced and aromatic. The spice level was also intense enough to give that fiery kick.

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Classic Pandan Waffles 4.2/5

Dessert options include the Classic Pandan Waffles (from $2.20), which can be paired with sweet toppings like gula melaka kaya, nutella, honey butter, and even savoury flavours like avocado egg mayo. We opted to go with the gula melaka kaya, which was not too sweet and had a delicious gula melaka fragrance. The waffle itself also has the perfect fluffiness with subtle pandan notes.

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.


The Hainan Story Coffee House
Nex
23 Serangoon Central
#02-17
Singapore 556083
Tel: +65 97835757
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit B, E, G & H. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Friday, October 14, 2022

Small Tables @ Pacific Plaza - New Sidewalk Cafe Bringing Ipoh Food To Singapore' Trendy Cafe Scene

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Small Tables recently opened at Pacific Plaza on 3 September 2022. It is a sidewalk cafe serving signature Ipoh dishes, white coffee and other scrumptious Asian flavours. The menu at Small Tables is designed by Executive Chef Sandra Lim, better known to many as the chef behind Lady Boss Dining Club and Lady Boss Chicken.

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Ipoh Curry Mee 3/5

I noticed many people at the restaurant ordered the Ipoh Curry Mee ($20). You can have it either soup or dry. We decide to go for the soup version. The bowl of noodles is brimming with ingredients such as poached chicken, char siu, sio bak, braised pig's ears, pig's skin, poached prawns, bean sprouts and mint leaves. However, the Ipoh version is not the lemak type. Hence, the local palate may not be so receptive.

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Cuttlefish & Water Spinach 4.5/5

Surprisingly I enjoyed the Cuttlefish & Water Spinach ($12). I can't pinpoint the sauce used, but it is much more delicious than the traditional cuttlefish kang kong with Hei Ko (prawn paste).

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Ipoh Chee Cheong Fun 4/5

How can we not try the Ipoh Chee Cheong Fun ($12) when we are at an Ipoh cafe. The cheong fun is thicker than the Hong Kong style and is served with fried beancurd skin, special chilli sauce, Ipoh curry and green chilli. I enjoyed having them soaking in curry sauce, paired with the green chilli and shiok chilli sauce, different from the usual local and Hong Kong style.

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Whole Fish Otah 4.5/5

It is a fish, no it is otah. It is both. The otah fish paste is stuffed inside the whole yellow croaker and baked in banana leaf. The Whole Fish Otah ($28) is probably my favourite dish for my dinner.

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Note: This is an invited tasting.


Small Tables
Pacific Plaza
9 Scotts Road
#01-09/10/11/12
Singapore 228210
Tel: +65 64529688
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1130am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 1130am - 11pm
Sun: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Follow the underpass to Shaw House. On the ground level, walk to Scotts Road. Turn left and walk to down Scotts Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Friday, August 5, 2022

Spice Brasserie @ Parkroyal on Kitchener Road - Lunch 茶 Buffet

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Spice Brasserie at Parkroyal on Kitchener Road has recently launched Lunch 茶. In just one seating of four hours long and at one price, you get to indulge in a lunch buffet, followed by an afternoon tea set. The buffet offers a line up of Malaysia and Singapore inspired dishes that warm you up with familiar tastes and flavours.

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Braised Black Vinegar Trotter 4/5

I was surprised to find a very homely dish - Braised Black Vinegar Trotter. Bringing flavours from his hometown, Penang, Executive Sous Chef Patrick Ooi uses Gula melaka in his recipe to develop his version of this family classic. The perfectly braised egg is a star of its own too.

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Penang Fried Kway Tiao & Carrot Cake 4/5

Other notable dishes from his hometown include Penang Fried Kway Tiao and Carrot Cake, and if you drop by for the weekday lunch buffet, there will be Penang Assam Laksa as well.

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DIY Popiah station

One of the highlights of this buffet is the DIY Popiah station - The turnips was very well stewed with dried shrimps and mushrooms, alongside fluffy shredded eggs and crunchy beansprouts.

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DIY Rojak

I had a lot of fun at the DIY Rojak station too, that is filled with chopped juicy pineapples, cucumbers, green mangos, turnips, crunchy youtiaos and beancurd skin.

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The buffet line also comes with a live Pratas and Naans station, serving robust fish curry and rich butter chicken. Right beside it is the station where you can order a handpulled Teh Tarik to complement your warm and fluffy pratas and naans.

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Chee Cheong Fun

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Lo Mai Kai

Other delights include local style dim sum such as Chee Cheong Fun, which is one of our favourites among the dishes, as well as Lo Mai Kai.

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DIY Muah Chee

There's even a Muah Chee station too, in which you can simply load your plate with heaps of the well roasted crushed peanuts!

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This new Lunch 茶 (pronounced as Lunch-‘cha’) buffet serves you an Afternoon 茶 Set after the lunch buffet ends at 230pm, which allows you to continue to chill with your loved ones till 4pm. Each set comes with free flow of tea and coffee. Featuring Asian sweets such as Nonya Kuehs, you will also get interesting creations such as Portuguese Durian Egg Tarts.

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The Saturdays and Sundays Lunch 茶 Buffet is priced at $45 nett per person.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Spice Brasserie
Parkroyal on Kitchener Road
181 Kitchener Road
Singapore 208533
Tel:+65 31382518
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 12pm - 4pm, 6pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk down Kitchener Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Five Star Hong Kong Style Handmade Dim Sum @ Shun Li Industrial Complex (Sims Drive) - Hidden Dim Sum Place In An Industrial Complex

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There have been many media coverages of Five Star Hong Kong Style Handmade Dim Sum located in a coffeeshop at Mei Ling Street. It is known for its freshly handmade dim sum by Chef Yiu Wah Tai, who has 30 years of experience working at Shang Palace, Shangri La and Jiang Nan Chun, Four Seasons Hotel.

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Chef Yiu has opened several Five Star Dim Sum around the island. However, not many people know that they have an outlet hidden on the seventh floor of an industrial building at Sims Drive. Furthermore, the place is air-conditioned!

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Siew Mai 4.2/5, Har Gao 4.2/5

Whenever I have Dim Sum, I will order Siew Mai ($4.50) and Har Gao ($4.50). I find that this is the primary entry to judge whether the dim sum at the restaurant is good or not. The Siew Mai and Har Gao here did meet my expectation. The Siew Mai is plump and juicy, while the Har Gao comes with huge prawn wrapped in thin translucent skin.

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Char Siew Cheong Fan 3/5, Prawn Cheong Fan 3.5/5

We also tried the Char Siew Cheong Fan ($4) and Prawn Cheong Fan ($4.50). I find these average, and the sauce is a bit too salty. However, it is value for money for the price and the amount of ingredients wrapped in the rice sheet.

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Xiao Long Pau 3.5/5

While the Xiao Long Pau ($3.50) is plump and filled with delightful marinated pork filling, the skin was a bit thick for me. However, maybe they need to make the skin thicker to hold the generous filling.

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Mala Dumpling 3/5

Though the Mala Dumpling ($4) sauce lacked the punch and fragrant, the dumpling itself is huge and stuffed with delectable filling.

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The menu at the Sim Drive outlet is quite limited. There are only 18 items on the menu. We also tried Salted Egg Custard Buns, Char Siew Pau, Congees and Carrot Cake. There is nothing fancy with the dim sum items here, do not have high expectations. Instead, you get a taste of tradition with a generous portion at an affordable price. Unlike the other Five Star Dim Sum outlets, the outlet here also offers zichar dishes, herbal soup and claypot dishes.


Five Star Hong Kong Style Handmade Dim Sum
Shun Li Industrial Complex
705 Sims Drive
#07-01
Singapore 387384
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Aljunied (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 830pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Cross the road and walk to bus stop opposite Aljunied MRT station (Stop ID 81081). Take bus number 137. Alight 2 stops later. Walk along Sims Drive to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, December 11, 2021

Rempapa @ Park Place Residences at PLQ - Chef Damian D'Silva Opens All-Day Singapore Heritage Cuisine Restaurant

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I have been following Chef Damian D'Silva heritage cooking when he had a stall at Timbre+ Ayer Rajah, followed by Folklore and Restaurant Kin. But, unfortunately, he didn't stay long at any one place. Hence I was glad to hear he is making a come back with a new restaurant - Rempapa at Park Place Residences at PLQ. Rempapa offers an all-day dining concept where the eclectic menu caters for different times of day - Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner.

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Chickpea Curry with Roti/ String Hoppers 4.2/5

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Available for both breakfast and brunch is the Chickpea Curry ($18) with either Roti or String Hoppers. Perked up by the addition of Kashmiri chilli powder and turmeric powder, it is an aromatic combo of Indian and Eurasian curry flavours. It's best to have it with the buttery crisp roti or let the string hoppers soak up the delicious curry.

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Sri Lankan Chicken Curry with String Hoppers 4/5

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I know Chef Damian can cook many cuisines, but Sri Lankan is new to me. The Sri Lankan Chicken Curry with String Hoppers ($16) is milder with tender kampong chicken thigh. Traditionally, Sri Lankan curry is a more watery kind of gravy that is perfect for the string hoppers, commonly known in Singapore as idiyappam or putu mayam, to soak up the curry.

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Stir-fried Chee Cheong Fun 3.5/5

Chee Cheong Fun is a trending dish in the food scene this year, with several hawker stalls selling it, but they all sell the steamed version. Over at Rempapa, there is the stir-fried version. The Stir-fried Chee Cheong Fun ($13) is fried together with prawn, egg, and yellow chive. It is similar to our local white carrot cake replaced with smooth and soft rice noodle roll.

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Seafood Curry Mee 4.8/5

The Seafood Curry Mee ($18) available during lunch and brunch comprises yellow noodles, bee hoon, pig skin, boiled prawns, fish cake, fresh cockles (optional), long tau pok and beansprouts. According to Chef Damian, his interpretation is from a Hokkien hawker dish served during the 1920s and 1930s. He has used his own curry powder blend for more subtle spice flavours. Sand prawns and dry shrimps are used to make the stock instead of coconut milk, resulting in a rich and umami soup base which I drank to the last drop.

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Fish Nasi Lemak 4.2/5

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Fried Chicken 4.5/5

The Nasi Lemak ($17) comes with either Fish or Fried Chicken. The fragrant coconut rice is accompanied by sambal, silver fish, egg and cucumber. Customers who opted for the fish nasi lemak gets a whole selar fish which is enormous! I prefer the fried chicken nasi lemak, which is comparable to the popular fried chicken nasi lemak from The Coconut Club.

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Fried Chicken Curry Rice 4/5

To introduce heritage cuisine to the younger generation, Chef Damian introduces them to heritage flavours by giving the dish a modern presentation. He believes the food needs to be accepted by them first before trying and learning more about heritage cuisine. Hence, he has come up with the Fried Chicken Curry Rice ($16), presented as a Japanese curry with kaarage, combing the essences of Eurasian, Peranakan, Indian, Malay and Chinese cuisines.

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Kedongdong Salad 4.5/5

For the dinner menu, the dishes are more communal. The menu is different from the breakfast, lunch and brunch menus. We had the Kedongdong Salad ($15) to kick start our dinner. I am not strange to the wing bean salad as Chef has served it before in his previous restaurant. However, the new version is less spicy, and he has added more shrimp floss.

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Baca Assam 4.8/5

The Baca Assam ($38) is a dish that Chef Damian's granddad cooked only on special occasions. It is a lost Eurasian heritage dish that is a mix of Peranakan and Indian flavours. Beef brisket is used, and I enjoyed the tenderness. The addition of tamarind gives the beef brisket the tanginess, which cuts the richness and whetted the appetite.

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Lamb Leg Rendang 3/5

The Lamb Leg Rendang ($38) is a classic Minangkabau dish cooked in a mix of wet spice paste. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the rempah, the boneless lamb leg came across on the dry side.

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Slow-cooked Belly Pork with Ah Seng Sauce 4.2/5

It is not all about Chef Damian's family recipes at Rempapa. The restaurant also showcases heritage recipes shared by the younger chefs to motivate their immersion into heritage cuisine. The Slow-cooked Belly Pork with Ah Seng Sauce ($23) is a heritage Hokkien dish that hails from Penang. The soul has to be the mildly spicy sauce on top of the pork belly. It is like having mala xiang gou.

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Kueh Platter 4.5/5

Not to be missed at Rempapa is the daily assortment of kuehs. The Kueh Platter ($6 for 4pc, $10 for 8pc, $15 for 12pc) includes favourites such as Kueh Kosui and Kueh Ku, Kueh Bengkah, Pulut Bengkah, Talam Keladi, Sago Ubi, Lapis Pulot, Rempah Udang and others available on the day.

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Rempapa is unlike any of Chef Damian's previous restaurants. At the new restaurant, Chef Damian introduces his 'Singapore New Heritage Cuisine', in which recipes drawn from the soul of tradition are reinvented with elements of different ethnicities to create flavour profiles that resonate with today's diner. Rempapa is not just a restaurant. It is the place where Chef Damian elevates Singapore heritage food to a status among the world's great cuisines. And where 'cultural sustainability' is nurtured through engaging the next generation of diners and mentoring fresh talent, seeing them take pride in Singapore cuisine and driving it to the next level.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Rempapa
2 Paya Lebar Road
#01-01/02/03
Park Place Residences at PLQ
Singapore 409053
Tel: +65 94591603
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1030am - 1030pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 930am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to Sims Avenue. Cross the road. Walk to Park Place Residences. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Happy Congee (满粥了) @ ARC 380 (Jalan Besar) - Hong Kong Style Chee Cheong Fun And Congee By Former Mui Kee Consultant

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Together with my foodie friends, we went down to the food court at ARC 380 on a weekday morning to check out Happy Congee (满粥了), specialising in Hong Kong style congee and chee cheong fun. I understand Seng Kor, a former consultant of Mui Kee Congee in Singapore, is behind the stall offering wallet-friendly congee and chee cheong fun.

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Hong Kong Boat Congee 3.8/5, Black Iberian Pork Congee 4/5, Seafood Abalone Congee 3.8/5

We tried a couple of congee on their menu. We ordered the Hong Kong Boat Congee ($6), Black Iberian Pork Congee ($5) and Seafood Abalone Congee ($8). You get a whole abalone for the seafood abalone congee for a mere $8. For the black Iberian pork congee, I felt the pork's savoury sweetness enhances the smooth congee, elevating the flavour. The Hong Kong boat congee comes in second with the bouncy cuttlefish and peanuts for that additional textural contrasts and flavours.

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Mushroom 4.2/5

The stall also offers a small selection of snacks to go along with the congee. We had the Mushrooms ($3.80), which is huge, plump and juicy, packed with lovely braising sauce. Other snacks available on the menu are abalone, pickled vegetable, peanut, egg and dough stick.

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Char Siew Rice Noodle Roll 3.5/5

Besides congee, another highlight at Happy Congee is their Hong Kong style Chee Cheong Fun. The rice roll is made using the traditional method by laying a cloth on a steaming tray, following with pouring the rice batter onto the cloth, cooking and folding it into a roll.

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Rice Noodle Roll with Dough Stick $4

For those that missed travelling to Hong Kong, the Rice Noodle Roll with Dough Stick ($4) and Char Siew Rice Noodle ($4) will bring back fond memories of those yum cha time in Hong Kong. The rice noodle roll with dough stick will delight customers with its crispy and smooth textures, complemented by the flavorful soy sauce and sesame.

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Tripe Sauce Rice Noodle Roll 4.5/5

My favourite is the Tripe Sauce Rice Noodle Roll ($3.50) drizzled with sweet and peanut sauce and topped with sesame. The lovely sauce goes very well with the silky smooth chee cheong fun. Both adult and kid will love the combination. It is a taste I am familiar with, bringing back a lot of childhood memories.

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Mala Chicken Shred Rice Noodle Roll 4/5

If you are into spicy, you will enjoy the Mala Chicken Shred Rice Noodle Roll ($5). It is a new take of the tradition, incorporating the popular mala sauce into the dish. I was sceptical about the taste, but it turned out the fragrant mala sauce goes well with the rice noodle roll.


Happy Congee (满粥了)
ARC 380
Bgain 380 Food Court
380 Jalan Besar
Sinagpore 209000
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Lavender (EW Line), Bendemeer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 830am - 230pm, 530pm - 830pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Lavender MRT station (Stop ID 01311). Take bus number 133 or 145. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bendemeer MRT station Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to traffic junction of Kallang Bahru and Lavender Street. Cross the road at the traffic junction. Turn right and walk down Lavender Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]