Lowercase Cafe @ LASALLE College of the Arts (McNally Street) – Hidden Gem In An Art School

A cafe-bar nestled along McNally Street within the LASALLE campus, Lowercase is the perfect chill out, food and study spot for the students with its spacious environment, laid back vibes and of course free all-day wifi, as well as student discount entitlements on top of the already affordably priced dishes. Opened to the public as well, Lowercase's extensive all-day brunch menu is no less impressive despite its unassuming location in an art school.

Flank Steak 4.2/5

A unique take on the traditional steak dish is the Flank Steak ($19.50). Well marinated, tender and juicy, stuffed full with flavourful chunks of onion, red and yellow bell pepper, it delivers an excellent textural contrast, while further accentuating its taste with the addition of mozzarella cheese and homedmade red wine sauce drizzled on the steak. The elements gel togther just right making it a well-exceuted dish. Furthermore, with a generously portioned steak dish pegged at a pricing below $20, it is definitely a steal.

Kimchi Chicken Burger 4/5

The Kimchi Chicken Burger ($16.50) comes in a huge chunk of juicy korean style fried chicken, blanketed with a specially curated gochujang sauce, and sandwiched in between leeks and fluffy burger buns. While I would deem the fried chicken delicious on its own, the main highlight would be the richly flavoured gochujang sauce that is savoury and sweet with just a subtle kick of spice that is sufficient to pack a impressionable punch to the tastebuds. It also came with a side of kimchi salad and fried topoki. Although the fried topoki had an addictive chewy texture, it might be a tad bland on its own, and perhaps could be paired with more of the gochujang sauce for a richer flavour.

Lemony Tuna W/Mixed Herbs 3.8/5

The Lemony Tuna W/Mixed Herbs ($14.50) features a cream base pasta cooked with tuna chunks, and tossed in lemon juice, anchovy bits and capers, before garnishing with chilli flakes, cherry tomatoes and wild rockets. Cooked al-dente, the pasta noodles boost a firmer, drier texture, while the generous addition of tuna chunks embedded within and rediscovered in every bite was a delight to the tastebuds and fared well as a refreshing combination.

BBQ Smoked Duck Pizza 4/5

Lowercase's rendition of the BBQ Smoked Duck Pizza ($15) made an impression with its crispy thin in-house made crust base, spread with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese atop, and laced with succulent smokey BBQ duck breast meat slices and homemade mandarin orange sauce. While the chopped spring onion and crispy spring roll skin added dimensions to its texture, no doubt the rest of the ingredients are well-executed and complement one another in its taste. Perhaps the main differentiating factor that added to its uniqueness is the touch of mandarin orange slices used that contributed a citrusy flavour to the overall taste of the pizza which just lifted the entire dish with a subtle zesty tanginess that I really enjoyed.

Atlantic Smoked Salmon Salad 3.8/5

For the health-conscious individuals, the Atlantic Smoked Salmon Salad ($15) is an ideal option. Fresh cured smoked salmon lightly whisked with pea sprout, eggs and red radish in place of the conventional garnish, lends a refreshing taste admist the bed of crispy mesclun greens, while an even coating of the tangy miso dressing in the salad was a nice finishing component that binds the flavours together, constituting a salad dish that fares far better than its usual bland-tasting counterparts.

Salted Egg Yolk Fries 4.5/5

The Salted Egg Yolk Fries ($11) is one of the best I had. It packs a rich flavour which carries a perfect sweet-saltiness balance, with a light spice from the curry leaves, and a grainy texture in its homemade salted egg yolk sauce that comes with some salted egg crumbs to enhance its flavour. While the fries are pretty ordinary and did not retain its crispness, dip those into the accompanying salted eggyolk sauce, and it provides a satisfying authentic burst of this local favourite's flavour. Rich and addictive, it serves as the perfect snack to munch on.

Waffle with Gelato 4.2/5

The waffle and gelato I had consists of a waffle and 2 scoops of gelato (cereal milk and pistachio flavours) atop. With a dedicated focus on quality ingredients, their gelato and special waffle batter are made in-house from scratch. The waffles boast a crispy exterior and a slightly starchy interior which is made better with the pairing of the smooth and creamy gelato. The Pistachio flavoured gelato had a rich roasted nutty flavour that screams authenticity, while the cereal milk was a unique option consisting of a milky flavoured ice cream with bits of cereal surprise embedded within. Lowercase does a variety of unique flavours for their gelato, and refreshes their offerings every week to excites tastebuds and keep customers coming back for more.

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


Lowercase Cafe 
College of the Arts Singapore
1 McNally Street
#01-01 Block D
Singapore 187940
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Website
Nearest MRT: Rocher (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 830am - 9pm
Sun: 9am - 3pm
(Closed on PH)

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

The Butcher's Kitchen @ Suntec City Mall - More Than Meats The Senses

Taking over the space at Bottura at Suntec City Mall is The Butcher's Kitchen by the renowned butchery, The Butcher. With 14 years in the market, The Butcher works directly with award-winning accredited producers, visiting their farms and processing facilities to authenticate the farm to table dining experience. Customers can truly enjoy their meat with a peace of mind. The new outlet also offers an array of handmade burgers, pizzas, pastas, pies and a premium gelato parlour.

Gourmet Sausages 4.2/5

We started with some light bites with the gourmet sausages that are handmade in-house using Australian meat. Diners can choose 3 out of the 7 homemade sausages to make a combo platter. Available on the menu are Country Style Beef Sausage, Beef Chorizo, Honey, Mint & Rosemary Lamb, Traditional Pork, Chicken Sausage, Cumberland Pork and Apple Sage Rosemary Pork. The platter also comes with grilled garden vegetables. Among the trio I tired, I preferred the beef chorizo as the flavour is more robust.

Grilled Chicken 4/5

The Grilled Chicken ($16) comes with a choice of thigh or breast, served with grilled vegetables. For the sauce, diners have a choice of sriracha, teriyaki, tandoori or honey mustard sauce.

Lamb Rack 4.5/5

The lamb at The Butcher's Kitchen is sourced from Lake View. The Lamb Rack ($25) is perfectly grilled and served with grilled garden vegetables in balsamic dressing and premium homemade brown sauce.

Pork Ribeye 3.5/5

While the Pork Ribeye ($29) from the multi-award winning Bangalow, Australia is known for its quality and taste, it has a porky taste that I did not quite enjoy. However I have to say the piece of pork was well cooked, tender and juicy.

Beef Ribeye 4.5/5

For the beef, we had the highly sought after Australia shorthorn breed, from Thousand Guineas. The Thousand Guineas Grain fed Ribeye ($38) is well grilled, tender and juicy. It has a nice buttery flavour too.

New Zealand King Salmon 4.5/5

For those that has a preference for fish, one can opt for the New Zealand King Salmon ($29) which is wild caught from the cool, deep international waters. Cooked to a nice pink with crispy skin, this is probably one of my favourite dishes besides the meats.

Carbonara 3.5/5

Besides the grilled meats and seafood, The Butcher's Kitchen does offer Italian fares on the menu such as pasta and pizza. The Carbonara ($15) tossed in a creamy sauce with crispy bacon and egg yolk was flavourful and enjoyable. However I thought the pasta was soft and overcooked.

Burger Dog 4.5/5

A must try at The Butcher's Kitchen is the Burger Dog ($10) which comes with a choice of beef, pork or lamb sandwiched in freshly baked ciabatta bread. The burger dog started from the butchery at their river valley outlet. It becomes so popular that it brought it to table at Suntec City Mall. I tried both the pork and beef. While the pork was tender, I felt that the beef patty is more flavourful and the texture works better with the homemade bread.

You can finish your meal at The Butcher's Kitchen on a sweet note with hand-crafted gelato from third generation of artisan Italian gelato markers. Besides the classic flavours such as vanilla and tiramisu, there are unusual flavours such chendol, salted egg and chilli crab.

An open grocer retail restaurant concept located at Suntec City, The Butcher’s Kitchen believes in sharing and serving real food to customers. It is not just a regular butcher but an eco-conscious chef with close relations to farmers and suppliers to ensure sources are high quality, safe and reliable. Customers know where their food is from and what goes into their bodies. The Butcher’s Kitchen aims to educate the public on the importance of food sources and the impact of food choices on all our lives.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Butcher's Kitchen
Suntec City Mall
North Wing
3 Temasek Boulevard
#02-472/3/4
Singapore 038938
Tel: +65 62387527
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Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line), Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

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

2) Alight Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Otto's Deli Fresh @ Holland Village - Mastery Comes To The Neighbourhood

For those that is familiar with Holland Village, you will know that the old POSB building has been demolished and replaced with the new Raffles @ Holland Village. It also sees a few new food establishments at the new building. One of them is Otto's Deli Fresh. The new deli and restaurant is opened by the revered veteran chef Otto Weibel. Chef Otto is a father figure of the Singapore culinary scene, working at the highest level of profession, promoting the Singapore F&B industry on the world stage, and mentoring young talents.

Button Mushroom Soup with Toasted Brioche 4/5

Dinner at the new Otto's Deli Fresh started with the Button Mushroom Soup with Toasted Brioche ($8.50). Besides button mushroom, other ingredients such as dried porchini powder, cream, caramelized onion and chives are added for a flavourful and comforting bowl of soup.

Burratina Roquette Salad 3.5/5

Moving on to the next dish is the Burratina Roquette Salad ($17) that comes with baby arugula, Italian burrata, Jamon Iberico de Bellota, tomato chutney and cherry tomato dressing. It is a light and simple salad dish with each components playing their respective role and coming together as one.

Pulled Pork Burger 3.5/5

For the hungry, you may want to check out the Pulled Pork Burger ($19) that is served with fries and condiments. The pork cheek is slow cooked for 5 hours, shredded and tossed in a housemade BBQ sauce. What aroused my palate for a balanced finishing is the used of housemade pickled Japanese cucumber for a contrasting tang to the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.

Beef Stroganoff Fettuccine 4.2/5

A beautiful dish on the menu is the Beef Stroganoff Fettuccine ($17). The pasta dish is served with hanger steak and white button mushrooms. The fettuccine is braised together with beef jus, carmelised onions and gherkins, infusing the essence of the ingredients for a slurping goodness.

Heritage US Kurobuta Pork Rack 300g 4.2/5

The Heritage US Kurobuta Pork Rack 300g ($39) is another dish on the menu that I enjoyed. The Japanese pork is grilled until colour develops, and then finished off in oven. Only lightly seasoned with salt, its amazing how it can taste so good.

Burnt Banana Waffles 4.5/5

The Burnt Banana Waffles ($11.50) comes with a whole burnt banana literally. Please do not eat the banana skin, it supposed to be peeled off. Spread the banana flesh onto the waffle and have it with some of the peanut butter gelato. The hot and cold combination worked excellently for a well fitting ending to the dinner.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Otto Deli Fresh
Raffles @ Holland Village
118 Holland Avenue
#02-01
Singapore 278990
Tel: +65 66943291
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Hello Kitty Orchid Garden @ Changi Airport Terminal 3 - World's First 24 Hour Hello Kitty Themed Cafe

The world's first 24 hour Hello Kitty themed cafe has opened at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3. Hello Kitty Orchid Garden is designed to emulate the country's garden city vibe. Around the cafe, Singapore's national flower, the orchid is incorporated into the interior design with a kawaii flair of the beloved character.

Coffee lovers will enjoy the the selection of hot and iced brews made from the specially sourced gourmet Ethiopan grade 1 beans. I had the Latte which comes with a cute hello kitty latte art. It also comes with cute shaped hello kitty biscuit.

Hola Nachos 3.5/5

A good starter for sharing is the Hola Nachos ($15.90). The fried tortilla chips is topped with parmasan, jalapenos, olives, onions and cherry tomato salsa. It comes with luscious cheddar cheese sauce that is the star that jazzed up the whole enjoyment.

Over the Rainbow Salad 3.5/5

I do wonder why the salad dish is called Over the Rainbow Salad ($15.90). I was expecting something more colourful or at least the components on the plate resembles the colours of a rainbow. Anyway the dish comes wth mesclun salad, portobello mushrooms, pineapple, jackfruit, feta cheese, pine nuts and dressed in a laksa mustard vinaigrette. I like the idea of using the jackfruit, giving the salad a fruity and refreshing finishing. The laksa mustard vinaigrette was rather light, giving it a slight lift in flavour.

Enchanted Forest 3/5

The Enchanted Forest ($17.90) is quesadillas sandwiched with prawn, avocado, caramelised onions, cheddar and wasabi sesame mayonnaise. The toasted tortilla shell together with the choice of ingredietns is a delectable combination.

Cowabunga Wagyu 3/5

Finally something really kitty on the plate with the Hello Kitty shaped rice. The Cowabunga Wagyu ($24) is one of the few Asian influenced dishes on the menu. The dish comes with Japanese rice, wagyu beef rendang, onions and pineapple. The beef can be more tender and I would prefer the spices mix to be more spicy. This is also the most expensive item on the menu.

Big Breakfast Surprise 3.8/5

Probably my favourite of all is the Big Breakfast Surprise ($18.50). The Hello Kitty waffles comes with cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, shiitake mushrooms, smoked duck and honey lime maple syrup. I like how the subtle zest on top of the maple syrup sweetness enriched the whole experience.

Hide and Seek 3.5/5

Moving on to the dessert, we started with the Hide and Seek ($16.90) which comes with wobbly pandan panna cotta paired with vanilla gelato, gula melaka, passionfruit and strawberry marshmallow sauce. The other Asian influenced dish that the local palate will be familiar with.

The Cat in Paradise 3.5/5

The Cat in Paradise ($18.50) is another dessert we tried. The mango mousse cake comes with candied orange, hazelnut gelato, green apple and strawberry marshmallow sauce. The smooth and light mousse cake will be appropriate for those that does not like their dessert to be too sweet.

Pistachio Gelato 4/5

At any one time Hello Kitty Orchard Garden will have 8 different gelato flavours to choose from. I decided to have a scoop of the Pistachio Gelato, which is pretty good with the nutty flavour and creamy texture.

Camping Under the Stars 4/5

The Camping Under the Stars ($19.50) is probably the cutest and most photogenic dish in the whole menu. It comes with a scoop of chocolate gelato and hazelnut gelato. Graham crackers is stacked onto the gelato to make it looks like a hut. The green tea powder and toasted muesli is designed to look like the camp fire.

While the food at Hello Kitty Orchard Garden is quite decent, I felt that it lacked the in the face cutest in the dishes. Unless you are a die hard Hello Kitty fan, I doubt it is worth queuing for hours for the food.


Hello Kitty Orchid Garden
Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3
Arrival Hall Central
#01-22
65 Airport Boulevard
Singapore 819663
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Website
Nearest: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours
Daily: 24hr

Direction: 
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit B. Go to arrival hall. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Bottura Restaurant @ Suntec City

The refurbished Suntec City brought a new lease of life to the mall with many new restaurants and concepts springing out at the various towers. Bottura is the latest restaurant to be opened at Suntec City with the concept of housing a restaurant, gelateria, cafeteria and Italian gourmet supply store under one roof.

Cold Cuts Platter 4.2/5

A good starter for sharing is the Cold Cuts Platter from Emilia Romagna with Marmelade ($22). The abundance servicing of different cured hams and cheese will whet up the appetite for the rest of the casual Italian fare.

Arancini Al Ragu 4/5

Another starter which I enjoyed is the Arancini Al Ragu ($8). The traditional risotto ball is served over a bed of tomato sauce. This is a hearty and comforting dish

Piadina with Parma Ham, Stracchino Cheese and Rocket Salad 3.5/5

A flat bread that can be found in every Italian home is the Piadina that can be filled with any ingredients of liking. With five different combinations available on the menu, I got to try the Piadina with Parma Ham, Stracchino Cheese and Rocket Salad ($12). The freshly made thin flat bread has a nice bite to it, allowing the sandwiched ingredients to be fully enjoyed

Egg and Squid Ink Tagliolini with Shrimp and Zucchini 4.5/5

A signature at Bottura is the Egg and Squid Ink Tagliolini with Shrimp and Zucchini ($18). The house made tagliolini tossed in a beautiful cream was just simply slurping heavenly.

Ravioli 4.2/5, Polenta Lasagne 4/5 and Gnocchi 4/5

Next I tried a trio of different pasta in the Ravioli with Cream, Ham and Mushrooms ($16), Polenta Lasagne with Traditional Ragu and Bechamel Sauce ($18) and Gnocchi with Traditional Ragu ($18). This is just the sampling portion. They are really good and it was quite difficult to say which is my favourite. The thin sheet of pasta stuffed with spinach, the layers of pasta sheet substituted by polenta for the lasagne and the chewy gnocchi. They all stood out on their own, which also means there is something for everyone to suit your preference.

Rockmelon, Parma Ham and Mozzarella 4/5

As one of the oldest and most famous Italian dishes in the world, Bottura does offer quite an extensive selection of pizza on their menu. I have eaten parma ham with rockmelon but having them atop a pizza is very unique. The 12 inch pizza with Rockmelon, Parma Ham and Mozzarella ($24) indeed comes across very delectable with the refreshing combination.

Buttora does offer a selection of yummy dessert on their menu to end the night on a sweet note. However I was too full to try them. Instead I hit over to the gelateria and got myself a scoop of the Pistachio Gelato ($5). The rich, nutty flavour together with the creamy texture made it a perfect ending for the night.


[CLOSED]
Bottura Restaurant
Suntec City Mall
North Wing
3 Temasek Boulevard
#02-472/3/4
Singapore
Tel: +65 62387527
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line), Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

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

2) Alight Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

The Singapore Tea Party by Sensodyne

The Singapore Tea Party by Sensodyne took place at The Duxton Hotel on 20 Jun 2015 attended by 20 selected guests and their friends, who have voted at http://www.facebook.com/SensodyneSG where both Maureen (aka MissTamChiak) and me has nominated our favourite dessert places. The exciting afternoon gathered seven dessert vendors under one roof allowing us to mingle, indulge and share our great little moments together with the guests.

We are very thankful to the various dessert vendors taking their time off to spend the afternoon servicing us with the beautiful hot and cold desserts. We have the following nominated dessert vendors at the Singapore Tea Party with their yummylicious offerings,

1) Alfero Gelato
2) Lady M
3) Jin Jin Mango Ice Kachang
4) No Name Cheng Tng
5) Pacamara
6) Tong Heng
7) Udders

The beautiful emcee officially opened the Singapore Tea Party with a brief introduction of the various dessert vendors. After that, the guests are invited to “dig in” to the spread of desserts.  Quoting  from Maureen. “Don’t think about slimming down, just enjoy to your heart filled”

It was a dessert heaven at the Singapore Tea Party. I was actually feeling kind of overwhelmed with the buffet of desserts, not knowing where to start with. From gelato, cake , coffee, traditional egg tart, traditional hot and cold desserts, we are spoilt of choices.

As a token to all the participating dessert vendors, both Maureen (MissTamChiak,.com) and me signed a certificate of appreciation and presented it to the participating dessert vendors. Once again this party will not be possible without their support.

There was also an instagram contest where 2 winners picked by Maureen and me, get to walk away with $100 worth of GSK products. A surprised People’s Choice award was also presented to Udders which has gotten the highest number of votes among the 12 nominated dessert vendors.

The Singapore Tea Party is just only a small part from us to share our great little moments with our fans and readers. If you have your own Great Little Moments, why not share it on http://www.sensodyne.com.sg/great-little-moments.aspx and stands a chance to win a staycation at Resorts World Sentosa’s Ocean Suites.

*This post is brought to you by Sensodyne