Cafe Oriental @ Amara Singapore - August Local Legends Series: KEK Seafood

In celebration of SG60, Amara Singapore has partnered with two iconic local legends to present a unique dining experience at Cafe Oriental, blending nostalgic flavours with creative modern interpretations.

During my visit in May, I had the opportunity to experience the collaboration with the century-old Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, featuring signature savoury dishes like Curry Chicken, Char Kway Teow, and Mee Siam, alongside sweet treats including Kaya Toast, Chocolate Cupcake, and an exclusive Durian Horn Pastry.

From August 5 to 31, the spotlight shifts to renowned zi char brand KEK Seafood, known for its wok hei-rich classics and inventive creations. Diners can savour the collaboration during lunch (12pm to 2.30pm) and dinner (6pm to 9pm) at Cafe Oriental.

Spicy Crab Meat Pasta 3/5

The Spicy Crab Meat Pasta offered a sweeter, milder take than what we'd personally prefer. However, it may serve newcomers to the dish well, although our pasta was slightly overcooked.

Prawn Paste Chicken Burger 3.8/5

The local favourite 'Har Cheong Gai' can be found in the Prawn Paste Chicken Burger, served with a side of crunchy sweet potato fries. The chicken patty was thick and juicy, but it was a touch dry overall.

Lala Pot 4/5

The Lala Pot swaps the usual clear broth for a hearty collagen base, served with thick vermicelli and a splash of brandy on the side. Clams were fresh and sweet.

Butter Cereal Fish & Egg Fried Rice 3.5/5

The cereal fish from the Butter Cereal Fish & Egg Fried Rice was a standout, being both crispy and tender, with a distinct butter aroma. The egg fried rice, however, was dry and fell short of expectations.

Black Pepper Angus Beef

While we don’t take beef, we heard fellow dining companions mention that the Black Pepper Angus Beef was peppery and tender.

Marmite Pork Chop 4/5

The Marmite Pork Chop featured thick pork cuts coated in a well-balanced marmite glaze, sweet and savoury.

Bak Kut Teh 3.8/5

Surprisingly enjoyable, the collaboration’s Bak Kut Teh had a peppery broth that was aromatic without being overpowering, paired with tender ribs.

Spiced Chilli Prawns with Mantou 3.8/5

The sweet chilli sauce in the Spiced Chilli Prawns with Mantou was mild enough for spice-averse diners. Served with fried mantou for dipping.

KEK Signature Moonlight Horfun 4/5

One of our KEK Seafood's must-order items is definitely the KEK Signature Moonlight Horfun. Wok-hei flavour remains distinct here, and the horfun is satisfying.

Chocolate Cupcake, Durian Horn Pastry

We got to sample desserts from Chin Mee Chin, their Chocolate Cupcake and Durian Horn Pastry. These old-school-style bakes will satisfy those with a sweet tooth.

Reservations for KEK Seafood at Amara Singapore can be made through https://singapore.amarahotels.com/offers/local-legends-cafe-oriental-x-keng-eng-kee-seafood.

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.


Cafe Oriental
Amara Singapore
165 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088539
Tek: +65 68792626
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Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 830pm
Sun: 11am - 6pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Peck Seah Street towards Gopeng Street. Turn right onto Gopeng Street and walk down Gopeng Street. Turn left onto Tras Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

The Marmalade Pantry @ Tanjong Pagar - Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Refreshed Menu of Light and Vibrant Flavours

The Marmalade Pantry is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with a refreshed menu across its four outlets in Tanjong Pagar, Novena, ION, and Anchorpoint. The menu introduces lighter and more vibrant flavour profiles, incorporating new dishes and enhancements to its signature items.

The extensive line-up includes a variety of starters, salads, mains, pasta, risottos, and desserts, as well as an updated beverage selection featuring NON, an Australian non-alcoholic wine alternative.

Red Velvet Latte 3.5/5

I decided on the Red Velvet Latte ($8) as I was curious about adding fresh beetroot to the dark cocoa drink. While it was a tad sweet for me, I appreciated the subtle earthy notes from the beetroot.

Fried Brussels Sprouts 4/5

We began our meal with the Fried Brussels Sprouts ($16), which had a delightful Japanese twist. The brussel sprouts are dressed in sesame soy kewpie mayo and topped with pickled chillies, nori strips, and sesame seeds.

Roasted Smashed Sweet Potatoes 4.2/5

Next up was the Roasted Smashed Sweet Potatoes ($16). A fresh dill and chives, yoghurt dressing, and tangy pickled onions nicely balanced the potatoes' natural sweetness.

Chicken Salad 4.2/5

Another standout starter for me was the Chicken Salad ($23). This vibrant and healthy dish was a colourful mix of fresh salad vegetables, green apples, cherry tomatoes, cashews, and coriander, all tossed in a tangy Viet-Thai dressing. The sous vide chicken strips were particularly tender and well-seasoned.

Crispy Barramundi 3.8/5

Moving on to the mains, we tried the Crispy Barramundi ($32). The fish was lightly seasoned and paired with stronger aromatics from the masala potatoes and vegetable chutney.

Chicken Burger 3.8/5

The Chicken Burger ($28) surprised us with its spicy kick. It featured a crunchy chicken thigh sandwiched between soft potato buns, accompanied by tangy slaw and spicy garlic soy. The burger was served with a side of fries and beet-pickled cauliflower.

Tomato Risotto 4.2/5

Next, we were served with the Tomato Risotto ($26). The risotto was creamy yet not too heavy, thanks to the addition of stracciatella cheese, cherry tomatoes, and a Thai basil salsa. It was a comforting dish.

Butternut Mac & Cheese 4.5/5

The unanimous favourite of the meal was the Butternut Mac & Cheese ($26). A signature dish of The Marmalade Pantry has been refined in the new menu with a rich truffle cream and blue cheese base, enhanced by sweet roasted butternut squash and a black vinegar glaze. This dish is a wholesome, decadent, and balanced cheese lover's dream.

Miso Sesame Cupcake 3.8/5

We tried the Miso Sesame Cupcake ($6.50), a new addition to the brand's cupcake range for dessert. The savoury-sweet frosting had a nutty flavour with hints of peanut butter, complementing the moist cake base.

Green Tea Basque 3/5

Lastly, we ended with a slice of Green Tea Basque ($15). This double-layered baked cheesecake had a top layer of white chocolate and green tea, which balanced the richness of the cheese. However, I found it too sweet for my liking.

The Marmalade Pantry's 25th-anniversary menu refresh has something to offer for everyone, whether you're a fan of their classic dishes or eager to try something new.

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.


The Marmalade Pantry
Oasia Hotel Downtown
#01–1
100 Peck Seah Street
Singapore 079333
Tel: +65 6385 0741
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar MRT (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjang Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to destination. [Map]

Top 10 Home Based Businesses (HBB) That Are Worth Ordering

COVID-19 pandemic has affected many people's livelihood. Instead of waiting for the best for the world to turn better, many people have taken a brave and significant step forward to change and adapt to the new norm. This sees the birth of many Home Based Business (HBB), putting their baking and cooking skills to good use, supplementing some incomes for the family.

I have the chance to try a couple of these home-based businesses during this period, and here is a list of my top 10 home-based business that is worth ordering and trying.

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A Sweet Mess

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A Sweet Mess caught my attention for their Rainbow Ondeh Ondeh. They are soft and chewy, with oozing gula melaka in it. Importantly, it is not using those syrup type. She actually bought the gula melaka in a block, hand grate them and cook them. Their Banana Cake, Pandan Gula Melaka Cupcake, and Basque Burnt Cheese Cake received many raving reviews too.

Order via DM on Instagram @asweetmesssg

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Any Hao Bao

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To keep her parents occupied during circuit breaker, Francesca started AnyHaoBao for her parents to share their love of cooking. My favourite is their homecooked herbal chicken and achar. You get a whole chicken, cooked to tender. The herbal taste is relatively mild, so it should be acceptable to children. Interestingly it comes with two hard-boiled eggs. They also made Kong Bak Pau, but this is seasonal.

Order via DM on Instagram @anyhaobao

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Edibles Bake Shop

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My close friends will know that I am not really into dessert, hence for Edibles Bake Shop to make it my list, it has definitely won me over. The cupcakes are not overly sweet, well balanced and most importantly, very delicious. Serene is a very talented baker and does check out her beautiful cake. She can also customise cakes for that special occasion.

Order via http://www.ediblesbakeshop.net
Instagram @ediblesbakeshop

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Hei Piah Family

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The hardest-hit industry during the pandemic is the aviation sector. During this period, pilots and cabin crews are all grounded. Laura, an SQ cabin crew and her fashion designer husband, started Hei Piah Family to share her mother-in-law Prawn Fritter recipe. I tried their prawn fritter and fell in love. It is crispy on the outside and pillowy inside.

Order via WhatsApp +65 86964568
Instagram @heipiahfamily

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Lady Boss Soy Sauce Chicken

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Lady Boss Soy Sauce Chicken is a home base business started by Sandra Sim. She is one of the owners of Sum Yi Tai. Before I tried the soy sauce chicken, I have already heard my raving reviews. When I finally get to taste it, I was really impressed. Well marinated and infused with the fragrant soy sauce, the chicken was also tender and juicy. Not forgetting that super power chilli sauce that comes with it.

Order via https://www.ladybosschicken.com

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Lor Bak Mama

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Lor Bak Mama is started by Christine Yue, who has zero income when she has to closed her nail salons during the circuit breaker. Encouraged by her family and closed friends who have tried her lor bak, I am glad that I can get to savour this delicious braised pork belly that is cooked until melt in the mouth, absorbing the braising sauce that is packed with robustness.

Order via take.sg/s/6586680788
Instagram @lorbakmama

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No Name Bake Store

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I have tried many home bakers' bakes during this period, and I really like the pastry box from No Name Bake Store. For $30, you get 4 different pieces of cakes. There are Kaya Butter Roll, Blueberry Hill, Brownie Cheesecake and Chocolate Hazel Royal. For the upcoming festive seasons, it is rolling up a new pastry box. Do keep a lookout.

Order via online form
Instagram @nonamebakestore.sg

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Noni Home Made Cooking

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Noni caught my eyes for offering authentic Indonesia food. I tried both their Nasi Lemak and Nasi Liwet. I personally love the Nasi Liwet as this is my first time have aromatic rice with anchovies wrapped with banana leaves, cooked over the fire. It even comes with a whole grilled chicken leg and tofu. 

Order via Instagram DM or WhatsApp +6594464249
Instagram @noni.sg

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Slab Some Ribs

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Affected by the pandemic, Elaine, a sales manager for a local airline has been on furlough, and on a good month may get to work up to two days a week. With the inconsistent workdays and significant financial impact, she started Slab Some Ribs to supplement her income. I have known many home-based businesses but selling pork ribs probably is the first. What's more she has an interesting flavour like Kicap Manis. I heard she is introducing a new Korean flavour for the upcoming festive season.

Order via take.sg/s/6596942060
Instagram @slabsomeribs

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Two Bake Boys

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Another home-based business started by an SQ cabin crew is Two Bake Boys. There are a lot of home bakers during this period and mostly focus on bakes such as brownies, cookies and burnt cheesecakes. Two Bake Boys is different, it is probably the first HBB that offers Authentic Thai Tea Crepe Cake. Currently, it has already expanded its menu with new flavours such as Matcha, Strawberry and Tiramisu.

Order via https://www.twobakeboys.com
Instagram @twobakeboys

The Ugly Cake Shop @ GB Point (Kallang Bahru)

Started as a home bakery, owner and baker Lisa quit her corporate job a few years back to concentrate on her baking at a licensed central kitchen in Ang Mo Kio. With the encouraging online orders and limited kitchen space, The Ugly Cake Shop took the bold step and moved into GB Point at Kallang Bahru, having its own cafe space offering its signature cupcakes and cakes.

Do not expect any latte art or pretty instagrammable cafe food dishes at The Uglly Cake Shop. The Ugly Cake Shop is still very much focus on her bakes while the cafe space provides a convenient sitting area for guests that needs a break, to enjoy their cupcakes and cakes.

Juliana

 If you have not known, the cupcakes at The Ugly Cake Shop are named after the owner's favourite people such as Juliana (Salted Caramel with Sea Salt Flakes),  Melissa (Strawberry, Rum & Dark Chocolate).

Melissa

Other cupcakes available are Zesty Zee (Lemon), Jamie (Earl Grey), Sally (Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate). However the most popular cupcake is the Big Daddy (Super Chocolatey with Nutella & Valrhona), which is not in the picture. As you probably would have guessed, it is sold out.

Zesty Zee, Jamie, Sally 

The cupcakes at The Ugly Cake Shop ranges from $3.80 to $4.50.

Desmond

For a twist to the usual cupcake is Desmond, a grilled cupcake. The butter base cupcake is grilled and served with orange blossom cream and cherry compote. Do note that this is a special item and is not always available. Please check with the cafe.

With a kind heart and a vision to feed the poor. Lisa has pledged and donates 20% of its proceeds towards buying meat, eggs and other much-needed protein sources for the kids in Shallom School, a school set up by Brazilian missionaries and supported by Agape Baptist Church. Every baked good you purchase from The Ugly Cake Shop will help to supplement their meals!


The Ugly Cake Shop
GB Point
535 Kallang Bahru
#01-06
Singapore 339351
Tel: +65 82288300
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT; Geylang Bahru (DT Line), Potong Pasir (NE Line), Lavender (EW Line), Kallang (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 10am - 7pm
Fri-Sat: 10am - 8pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Geylang Bahru MRT station. Take Exit. Walk to junction of Kallang Bahru and Geylang Bahru. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Potong Pasir MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Potong Pasir MRT station (Stop ID 60269). Take bus number 107 or 853. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about. 12 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Lavender MRT station (Stop ID 01311). Take bus number  61, 107 or 175. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to junction of Kallang Bahru and Geylang Bahru. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

4) Alight at Kallang MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop opposite block 2C along Lorong 1 Geylang (Stop ID 80101). Take bus number 26. Alight 3 stops later. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Spruce @ Fire Station (Upper Bukit Timah)

This is the time of the year where restaurants are pushing out their festive menus. After my recent visit to Spruce at Phoenix Park, I am back to Spruce but at their Upper Bukit Timah Fire station outlet to try their Festive Set Menu ($38++) available from 1 to 30 December 2014 except 24, 25 and 31 December 2014. OCBC cardmembers will enjoy a 10% discount for the Festive 3 course menu which comes with a Salad, choice of main and a dessert.

Roasted Beetroot & Chevre Salad 4/5

Starting the 3 course Festive Menu was the Roasted Beetroot & Chevre Salad. It consists of a bed of roasted beetroot, candied walnuts, arugula and white balsamic dressing. I like the roasted beetroot which still comes with a nice crunch on top of its earthy sweetness.

Split Pea and Sweet Potato Soup 3.5/5

For an additional $10, you can add the Split Pea and Sweet Potato Soup to make it a 4 course meal. It was a comforting and hearty soup especially for the rainy period. If you are in the mood for some champagne, spruce offers the Pierre Paillard Cru Brut Chapagne for an additional of $45 for 375ml or $85 for 750ml.

Smoked Lamb Bockwurst with Chestnut Stuffing 3/5

Roasted Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing 3.5/5

The mains come with a choice of either the Smoked Lamb Bockwurst with Chestnut Stuffing or Roasted Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing. I really like the plating, the dish has the Christmas feel in its presentation. Among the two mains, I would prefer the turkey. I enjoyed how the sweetness of the cranberry sauce complemented the turkey meat.

Pumpkin Pie 2.8/5

Drawing the curtain to the 3 course festive set menu is the Pumpkin Pie. While I enjoyed the buttery crust, I thought the pumpkin flavour was lacking. I could barely tasted any pumpkin. It probably has been masked off by the sweetness of the marshmallow.

Ahi Tuna Tartar 4.5/5

Besides the festive menu, Spruce at Fire Station offers a lot of yummlicious dishes on the a la carte menu. One such dish is the Ahi Tuna Tartar ($22) that my friend highly recommended. 120 grams of sashimi grade raw tuna mixed with a special vinaigrette and served with a sliced avocado and toasted ciabatta bread. One word, awesome. You just need to have it.

Signature Salad 4.2/5

For a healthy and clean diet, Spruce's Signature Salad ($19) is pretty substantial with fresh corn, dates, almonds, Momotaro tomato, cucumber, avocado mixed green and chevre cheese. I like the choice of the champagne vinaigrette dressing which is not too heavy complementing the nature flavours of the salad. I actually find the use of dates in the salad rather interesting as you don't often get it elsewhere.

Spruce Burger 4/5

Over at Spruce @ Phoenix Park, I tried their pasta dishes so this time round I had the burgers instead. First up is the Spruce Burger ($18) which comes with a 160 grams freshly grounded Australian beef chunk sandwiched in between the black and white sesame bun that is made freshly daily. The burger is also topped with havarti cheese, bacons, lettuces etc. The beef patty itself was juicy and moist. However I felt something was missing in the burger, probably that feeling of guilt and messiness when you bite into one. I like my burger to be very big in flavour but this was more refined.

Tuna Burger 3/5

The Tuna Burger ($24) is one item on the menu that caught my eye when I first visited Spruce. I tried the cod fish burger from market grill before and it was awesome. I was hoping the tuna burger will be something similar. Unfortunately, I felt a bit disappointed when it was served as a patty instead of a whole tuna fillet. I was a decent burger but it was not memorable.  The star ingredient, tuna was hardly noticeable in the execution.

Red Velvet Cupcake and Latte 4/5

Don't be mislead by all the different colourful neon lights at Spruce Fire Station. This is not just a drinking place, it actually serves a cup of good coffee. The beans are sourced from Naples in Italy. We also tried the Red Velvet Cupcake which gets the approval from around the table. It was nicely balanced, not overly sweet and moist.

Pecan Pie 3/5

Baked Ginger Date Pudding 4/5

I have tried the Baked Ginger Date Pudding ($15) before and I still enjoy it. Warm, moist and comes with hints of ginger flavour. This is heavenly paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. If you like something nutty and sweet, the Pecan Pie would be a good choice too.

Having visit both Spruce's outlet, I have to say I have enjoyed both my experience. For those that drives, parking is free. Spruce Fire Station also screens live soccer matches, hence it is a good place to hang out with friends for a drink and catch a match too. Of course not to be missed is the festive promotional menu at $38++ and OCBC cardmembers get another 10% discount.


Spruce @ Fire Station (Upper Bukit Timah)
260 Upper Bukit Timah
#01-01
Singapore 588190
Tel: +65 64665582
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpruceFirestation
Website: http://www.spruce.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line), Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 12midnight
Sat-Sun & PH: 9am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus no. 852. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 184. Alight 13 stops later. Walk to overhead bridge. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]