Tanglin Cookhouse @ Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ) - Opens new Outlet at Paya Lebar, Specialising in Contemporary British Colonial Cuisine

Tanglin Cookhouse is a hidden gem nestled in the tranquil corner of Tanglin Mall, providing an oasis of lush British colonial-style setting for diners to indulge in timeless yet contemporary colonial cuisine away from the bustling streets of Orchard. They are thrilled to announce their newly opened outlet at Paya Lebar Quarter, inviting diners to experience the harmonious blend of history and contemporary culinary delight at Tanglin Cookhouse.

We kickstarted the meal with an enticing cocktail selection. The "Tanglin Classic" ($18) offers a refreshing blend of Widges London Dry Gin, cucumber, rosemary, and Fever Tree tonic. At the same time, the "Bloody Brilliant" ($18) features Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin, fresh blood orange, and Fever Tree tonic. Our favourite goes to the latter, which delivered a fruity explosion that sets the perfect tone for the dining adventure ahead.

Tanglin Scotch Egg 4.2/5

The Tanglin Scotch Egg ($20) is a modern twist on a classic dish. It features a cage-free organic egg with a perfectly runny yolk, served on a vibrant bed of purple cabbage slaw. The dish is elevated by adding pickled mustard seeds, which provide a tangy contrast, and a creamy ranch dressing that ties all the flavours together.

Spiced Curry Lamb Papadum Nachos 4/5

The Spiced Curry Lamb Papadum Nachos ($16) are a delightful fusion of Indian and Western flavours, offering a unique and delicious twist on traditional nachos. It features crispy papadum chips as a base, providing a delightful crunch. These chips are then generously topped with tender and flavourful spiced curry lamb, which adds a rich and aromatic dimension to the dish. The yoghurt dressing adds a creamy texture and a hint of tanginess that complements the spiciness of the curry.

White "Rojak" Fruit Salad with Kaffir Lime Quinoa 4/5

The White "Rojak" Fruit Salad with Kaffir Lime Quinoa ($22) is a vibrant and refreshing dish that combines the best of both worlds - the traditional flavours of Rojak and a contemporary twist with quinoa. The salad boasts a mesclun salad base, artfully adorned with a colourful medley of ingredients, including dragonfruit, pineapple, turnip, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes. The unique twist in this dish is the Kaffir Lime Quinoa, as its tangy and aromatic profile adds depth and complexity to the salad. To further elevate the dish, it includes You Tiao Croutons, which offer a crispy contrast to the fruits and quinoa. The cashew nuts add a delightful crunch, while the ginger flower vinaigrette ties all the flavours together with its aromatic and slightly spicy notes.

Crispy Hainanese Kurobuta Pork Chop 4/5

The Crispy Hainanese Kurobuta Pork Chop ($32) is a harmonious fusion of Asian and Western flavours, showcasing the rich culinary heritage of Hainanese cuisine with a modern twist. Featuring a succulent Kurobuta pork chop with a crispy exterior, it's complemented by an Oriental tomato sauce that balances sweet and tangy notes. The dish is enriched with garden peas, golden fries, and a refreshing purple cabbage slaw.

Tanglin Style Pao Fan 3.5/5

The Tanglin Style Pao Fan ($34) is an exquisite and comforting dish that showcases a lavish array of seafood and flavours. The poached rice dish features organic jasmine rice, known for its delicate fragrance and fluffy texture. The seafood selection is a highlight, including locally farmed tiger prawns, succulent crabmeat, tender clams, plump scallops, and squid. The Pao Fan is further elevated with puffed rice, which adds a delightful crunch and playful contrast to the tender seafood and rice and an onsen egg, which enriches the dish with its velvety yolk. What ties everything together is the superior broth. However, the broth was slightly less rich than expected.

Sunday Roast 4.2/5

The Sunday Roast (36) is a classic and hearty meal that pays homage to a Sunday roast dinner tradition. The beautifully roasted grass-fed Angus beef is at the heart of this dish, cooked to perfection to ensure tenderness and flavour. A rich and savoury onion gravy is generously drizzled over the meat, enhancing its taste and adding depth to every bite. The Yorkshire pudding, an essential component of a traditional Sunday roast, is served alongside the beef. These crispy and airy delights are the perfect complement to the meat, providing a satisfying contrast in texture. A medley of vegetables on the side, which includes garden peas, roasted potatoes, carrots, and charred broccoli, adds colour and vibrancy to the dish.

British Danish Bread & Butter Pudding 4.2/5

Finally, we round off the meal on a sweet note with the British Danish Bread & Butter Pudding ($18). It is a delightful dessert that marries the comforting charm of a classic British bread pudding with the sweet indulgence of Danish flavours. This dessert features a decadent bread and butter pudding base made with rich and flavourful ingredients like rum-soaked raisins, velvety chocolate, and aromatic cinnamon. These elements come together to create a comforting, warm, and slightly spiced sensation. It is topped with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, which adds a refreshing contrast to the warm pudding. As a finishing touch, it is adorned with delicate cocoa nibs, which provide a delightful crunch and a hint of bittersweet chocolate flavour.

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.


Tanglin Cookhouse
PLQ 3
2 Tanjong Katong Road
#01-06/07
Singapore 437161
Tel: +65 65924572
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Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Oriole Coffee + Bar @ Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard - A Cafe by Day, A Bar by Dusk, All In the Heart of Bustling Town

Since its establishment in 2008, Oriole Coffee + Bar in Somerset has been serving diners with their freshly brewed speciality coffee and cafe classics in the day. It transforms into a bar in the evening, with a diverse selection of house-pour wines, beers, interesting cocktails, and hearty dishes - all the good ingredients for a place to unwind and relax for the night.

From 21 August to 31 October 2023, Oriole is introducing their "Oriole's Summer Specials", showcasing a number of new menu offerings and refreshing cocktails that were concocted in collaboration with Tanqueray. Some of these dishes include the Veggie Puttanesca Pizza, Acqua Pazza Barramundi and Donut Balls.

The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seats, each providing its unique vibe.

Truffle Fries 4.2/5

Before taking our seats, we spotted Truffle Fries ($15) on almost every other table. While this starter was slightly pricey, we thoroughly enjoyed the fries' consistent crunch and fluffy interior.

Shrimp-paste Marinated Chicken Wings with Bali Rub 4.5/5

These Shrimp-paste Marinated Chicken Wings ($16) left a huge impression! Following the recommendation of our friendly waitress, we opted for our wings with an additional Bali Rub (+$1.90). The piping hot wings arrived coated in a slick, sweet sauce. The crunch was on point, and the meat remained wonderfully juicy. If you're feeling adventurous, consider adding the Butter Sriracha (+$1.90) for a unique twist.

Veggie Puttanesca Pizza 3.8/5

Our first main was the Veggie Puttanesca Pizza ($22), featuring an all-vegetable assortment of toppings on a base decked with puttanesca sauce. It includes Kalamata olives, capsicum, Roma tomatoes, button mushrooms, yellow onions and arugula. The base leans a little more dry and biscuity.

Acqua Pazza Barramundi 4/5

Our next main dish was the Acqua Pazza Barramundi ($28), which highlighted the freshness of the protein. It was marinated with extra virgin olive oil and thyme before being poached in a tomato-based sauce.

Donut Balls 3.8/5

Oriole's house-made Donut Balls ($15) are freshly fried upon order and come accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was decorated with crumbles and blueberries and served with sweet blueberries and date compote. However, despite the decently satisfying crunch on the outside, the centre was too doughy for our liking.

Mango Berry Sunset

From the special cocktail menu curated in collaboration with Tanqueray, we sampled the refreshing Mango Berry Sunset ($20). It was a very bright concoction, both visually and in taste, with its mix of Tanqueray London Dry, Raspberry Puree, Lemon Juice and Mango.

Do make a reservation before visiting. You can do so easily at https://www.oriole.com.sg/reservations.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Oriole Coffee + Bar
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard
96 Somerset Road 
#01-01
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348/ +65 9248 1972
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 1030pm
Fri: 11am - 1130pm
Sat: 10am - 1130pm
Sun: 10am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Go to the ground level. Turn left and walk straight to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Mio Fine Foods ( 美桜 ) @ Neil Road - Celebrates Its First Anniversary With An Updated Menu

Mio Fine Foods, located on Neil Road, celebrates its first anniversary with a refreshed menu. Known for its modern and artistic interpretations of Japanese cuisine, Mio's new menu features a more refined version of their crowd favourites from past seasonal menus and traditional staples.

Kaki Ikura 4.5/5

From their previous Winter Menu, we enjoyed an enhanced version of the Kaki Ikura ($24/6pcs), showcasing plump Japanese fresh oysters adorned with ikura and enlivened with the tangy zest of Japanese ponzu.

Grab Sushi 3/5

Grab Sushi ($25/5pcs) is from their previous Summer Menu, featuring Spicy salmon avocado, unagi cheese, negitoro tanuki, hotate mentaiko, ebi fry wasabi mayo. The way to eat it is to wrap each sushi with a piece of nori. While they looked stunning on the plate, the elongated rice roll was a challenge to be picked up without the risk of breaking it. I tried the Negitoro Tanuki. It didn't deliver the expected unctuous texture, which would have brought a better balance to the amount of rice in the sushi.

Sanshoku Maki 2.8/5

Sanshoku Maki is a new traditional staple created. I enjoyed the interplay of textures - crunchy fried ebi and cucumber, contrasting with raw salmon and akami. The rice, however, needed to be more compact, dampening the maki's overall experience.

Niku Enoki Roll 2.8/5

Niku Enoki Roll ($20/5pcs) is also from their Summer Menu. We had pan-seared sliced beef roll with golden mushrooms in sweet butter sauce on the plate. While the beef was tender and flavourful, the sweet butter sauce and soft beefy roll combination was a tad cloying.

Waygu Uni Don 4.5/5

Wagyu Uni Don ($62) is a luxurious, refined dish showcasing Japanese Wagyu's excellence. Enhanced with fresh nama uni, thinly sliced fried garlic, ikura, and a shoyuzuke egg yolk, the beef's flavour is elevated further by a drizzle of momidare sauce. The cured egg yolk boasts a rich and creamy texture, beautifully binding the ingredients with the sushi rice. The sushi rice's vinegary notes balance the dish's richness with its pleasant acidity.

Kinoko Tofu 4.2/5

Hamachi Kama 4.5/5

We also had two popular items that continued from the previous menu - Kinoko Tofu and Hamachi Kama. Kinoko Tofu stood out with its clear bonito soup that delivered a complex depth of umaminess. The tofu was gratifying, with a nice creamy texture encased within the crust and moreish with a savoury mushroom flavour. The Hamachi was perfectly grilled with a juicy texture, seasoned with just a touch of salt to bring out its subtle flavour.

Mochi and Berries 4/5

Summing up the evening is Mochi and Berries ($15) from Spring Menu, pleasurable with chewy handmade Japanese mochi, lightened with summer strawberry ice cream, berries and maple drizzle. There was a good balance of sweetness, but more ice cream would be great, given the number of mochi.

The Beverage menu has also been updated, featuring creative mocktails and cocktails concocted with sakes.

Words and photos 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.


Mio Fine Food
82 Neil Road
Singapore 088843
Tel: +65 62912330
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Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW, NE, TE Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 930pm
Fri: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 4pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit 4. Cut through Duxton Plain Park to Keong Saik Road. Turn left onto Keong Saik Road and walk towards Neil Road. Turn left on Neil Road and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Cross the road. Turn right and walk down Neil Road. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Akanoya Robatayaki & Bar @ Orchard Rendezvous Hotel - A Revamped Robatayaki Experience with a $48++ Lunch Set

Nestled within the Akashi Group, Akanoya Robatayaki, a renowned Japanese bincho grill restaurant, has unveiled a fresh chapter in its culinary journey. After 8 years of serving delectable robatayaki dishes, the restaurant underwent an extensive transformation, modernising its space to provide an enriched dining encounter. This makeover added more booths, private rooms, and a bar while keeping the central robatayaki dining counter intact. Simultaneously, as part of this renaissance, Akanoya Robatayaki introduced lunch service for the first time in its history. The Hirugohan Lunch Set, priced at $48++, presents an indulgent collection of 8 delightful dishes.

The Hirugohan Lunch Set ($48++) commences with a parade of 5 diverse appetisers, which vary daily to ensure a fresh experience. This initial array aptly reflects the restaurant's meticulousness and commitment to quality.

Sashimi 4.2/5

Additionally, an optional Sashimi course is available for an extra $20. Our sashimi ensemble spotlighted Maguro, Hamachi, and Salmon, each exhibiting the impeccable freshness synonymous with Akanoya Robatayaki.

Meat Skewer with Half-boiled Egg 4.5/5

Moving ahead, we savour the Meat Skewer with Half-boiled Egg. This creation boasts a unique combination of meat with soft bone, providing a captivating textural interplay. As the half-boiled egg complements the skewer, a delightful fusion of flavours emerges, evoking memories of a classic Singaporean breakfast.

You can also order a couple of cocktails from the bar to complement the lunch. If not, it also has a stellar sake list offers 30 to 40 selections of rare sakes carefully sourced from various parts of Japan

Grilled Japanese Vegetables and Mushrooms 4/5

Enhancing the culinary affair, Grilled Japanese Vegetables and Mushrooms come into play. These delectable bites, caressed by the bincho charcoal's essence, acquire a subtle smoky allure while retaining their inviting crunch.

Beef Croquette 4.2/5

Among the highlights of the lunch set is the Beef Croquette, a scrumptious creation that marries flavoursome, juicy beef with a crispy exterior.

Wagyu 4.2/5

The main course offers a choice between Wagyu and Cod. Opting for the Wagyu, diners are treated to marbling that translates to a heavenly blend of flavour and melt-in-the-mouth texture, an epitome of culinary delight.

Donabe 4/5

The finale arrives with the Donabe, where fragrant rice dances with sakura ebi and salmon roes. Each spoonful bursts with intricate flavours, crafting a memorable conclusion to the meal.

Dessert 4.5/5

As a final touch, a duet of Japan Melon and Nashi Pear provides a sweet epilogue, aligning harmoniously with the lunch's unbeatable value.

This splendid 8-course lunch set, priced at $48++, is not limited to weekdays. The offering extends its allure on Saturdays, providing an equally captivating afternoon escapade. Akanoya Robatayaki beckons all who seek a revitalised robatayaki encounter brimming with authenticity, innovation, and culinary finesse.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Akanoya Robatayaki & Bar
Orchard Rendezvous Hotel
1 Tanglin Road
#01-01
Singapore 247905
Tel: +65 6732 1866
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Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT (NS, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 530pm - 130am
Sun-Mon: 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Walk down Orchard Road to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Binary @ Palais Renaissance - Celebrating One Year Milestone With A Revamped Menu

Binary at Palais Renaissance is a gastro-bar that conceptualises its menu based on the concept of Binary. Presenting a single produce in both Asian and Western versions, you can choose either one flavour or even both if one intrigues you just as much as the other. One year on, Binary has recently refreshed its menu to incorporate new creations in a more considered format that better reflects its binary approach towards cuisine.

Signature Kubaneh Bread 5/5

Kubaneh is a Jewish Yemeni pull-apart bread, and what we had was done using the chef's very own winning formula. Apparently, this Signature Kubaneh Bread ($14) has made itself quite a name for the past year. And indeed, it was on every occupied table. Its beautiful gold crust illuminated in the light, and pulling it apart revealed the soft and fluffy interior. While some like it slathered with the accompanying garlic butter and kombu butter, I enjoyed it equally with the small plates and mains that were served after.

Octopus/Lao Gan Ma Chilli Crisp 4.5/5

From Small Plates Section ($18 each), we were first served with Octopus tossed with Lao Gan Ma Chilli Crisp (+$14) was moreish and definitely the most innovative way of presenting a grilled octopus. Using the household Lao Gan Ma Chilli, the crisp itself was piquant with a desired amount of heat. The grilled octopus is served thoughtfully sliced up instead of whole, allowing each slice to be enjoyed easily with the crisp without having to slice it up with utensils.

Sesame Prawn Toast 2/5

The following Small Plate, however, paled in comparison. The Asian approach of the Tiger Prawns is presented through a Hong Kong-style sesame prawn toast. A housemade tiger prawn paste is spread onto white bread, deep-fried and finished with a drizzle of kecap manis sauce. The idea is appealing, but not our greasy toast and the salty prawn paste.

Fresh Burrata 4.5/5

Coming to the single produce Cheese, we had a vegan-friendly Western style - Fresh Burrata, served with homemade impossible meat sauce and basil. The meat sauce was impossibly delicious! Like a good bolognese sauce, it was well seasoned with herbs, spices and sweetness from plumb tomatoes, and the minced impossible had a nice bite to it, unlike some other vegan versions, which turned out somewhat mushy. It was indeed a fitting match with the divine pillowy soft burrata.

Wagyu Petit Tender 3/5

The Asian-style Wagyu Petit Tender is new, glazed with savoury char siew sauce. My favourite parts were the tail and front, fully caramelized on one side. Unfortunately, the larger slices in between were a tad underseasoned.

King Prawn 2.5/5

We had King Prawn (tasting portion) oven baked with cajun herb butter for the Mains. The flavours were good, but the prawns lacked the desired firmness.

Oven-Roasted Whole Spatchcock Chicken 4/5

We also had Asian-style Oven-Roasted Whole Spatchcock Chicken (tasting portion). It has the flavours of an Asian soy chicken but is even tastier with a savoury-sweet, slightly charred skin. The meat was tender, and even the lean breast meat portion was delectable.

Grilled Asparagus 3.5/5

New highlights under Sides ($14) include a Grilled Asparagus flavoured with housemade egg aioli, grated Parmigiano and salt-cured egg yolk. I couldn't taste the latter as it was being grated, but overall, it was an excellent complement to the mains.

Hongkong Egglet 4/5

The Dessert section surprised us with an unexpected offering - Hongkong Egglet with blue sea salt ice cream, yuzu jam and chocolate balls. I enjoyed it far more than any egglet I have tried in Singapore. You get an abundance of textures. Some egg pockets were fluffy, some were crisp on one side and doughy on the other, just like a typical egglet. I was impressed! The accompaniments are odd though. Perhaps they should just serve in Hongkong style, with condensed milk, sugar and peanut butter.

Alongside Binary also debuts a cocktail menu that adopts the same binary presentation, where you get a list of Classic offerings synergised with another list with an Asian style.

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.


Binary
Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road
#01-01A
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 93630101
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS, TE Line)

Opening Hours
Sun-Tue: 1130am - 1030pm
Wed–Sat: 1130am to 12midnight

Direction:
Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to Wheelock Place. Walk to traffic junction of Orchard Road and Angullia Park. Cross the road to Royal Thai Embassy. Turn left and continue down Orchard Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]