Raffles Courtyard @ Raffles Hotel - Newly-launched Weekend Brunch Menu With Asian And Western Delights

Raffles Courtyard at Raffles Hotel now presents a new weekend brunch menu to include both Asian and Western delights, as well as healthy beverages to fuel you for the rest of the week.

Antipasti 3/5

If you are reaching out for some bubbly or wines, the Antipasti ($58) would be ideal for 3 to 4 pax. It comes with an Anchovy spread, selection of Cold Cuts, Smoked Salmon, Marinated Vegetables, some cheeses and a couple of raisins. The Anchovy spread was really yummy, and to appreciate its flavours, simply spread it onto the breads that is served with the antipasti. The bunch of raisins was abit awkward on the plate, a handful more dried fruits would definitely help to make this platter more complete.

Avocado Tartine 2.8/5 

You can go for ala carte or create your own Courtyard Brunch ($28) which will provide you with a Main Course, a Cold Beverage and a Hot Beverage. For Main Course, I had a Tartine from the Heartier Options category, that is to be topped with Avocado Hash, Guacamole, Toasted Pine Nuts, Rocket and Parmesan Cheese (ala carte $22). Although this dashed my hopes of a creamy, satisfying avocado toast luxe for carrying only a thin spread of Guacamole and heaps of rocket, the refreshing bitter greens that was beautifully salted, in combination with the toasty pine nuts, was very much enjoyable.

For beverages, there are some interesting choices for juices, customisable smoothie and teas.

Kaya Toast Set 3.5/5 

From the Asian Delights, the Kaya Toast Set delights with its thick slices of butter and mellow sweet kaya. I hope the toasting of the bread can be improved over time, as mine felt like it needed a minute more. It comes with traditional kopi or teh.

Popular local items such as Nasi Lemak and Mee Goreng are also available, as well as the quintessential egg-centric dishes which can be found in the Protein category.

The weekend brunch is served on weekends from 930am to 3pm.

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.


Raffles Courtyard
Raffles Hotel
328 North Bridge Rd
Singapore 188719
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Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 3pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 930am -10pm

Direction:

1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to the junction of Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road. Cross the road. Walk down North Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

White Rose Cafe @ York Hotel - A Refreshed A La Carte Menu

York Hotel is renowned for its Penang Hawkers' Fare buffet but lesser known is their local and Asian cuisine served at the White Rose Cafe. Helmed by Chef Charlie Tham, the culinary team has refreshed the a la carte menu showcasing new re-interpretations of Asian dishes and Western classics.

Satay 4.2/5

We started with some Satay that is well marinated and grilled to a nice exterior char. Diners have a choice of chicken or pork. It comes with rice rice cakes, sliced cucumber, onion and peanut sauce topped with grated pineapple. Love the fact that the sauce comes with grated pineapple for the hint of sweetness on top of the nutty sauce.

White Rose Cafe New Specialties Mee Siam 4/5

Even thought it is a refreshed menu, it also brought back some of the old favourites such as the Mee Siam. The tangy and spicy gravy topped with prawns, sliced egg, bean sprouts and diced fried bean curd complements the rice vermicelli excellently. Do note this is sampling portion.

Vietnamese Beef Pho 4/5

Chef Charlie has also introduced Vietnamese cuisine in the refreshed menu. The soup for the Vietnamese Beef Pho is boiled for hours using beef bone marrow for a good 8 hours, resulting in a light but rich broth.  The flavourful broth is accompanied by the smooth flat rice noodles, tender sliced beef, bean sprouts and onion. It is then garnished with red chilli, lime and fresh local herbs.

Vietnamese Pork Chop 4.2/5

The other Vietnamese dish on the menu is the Vietnamese Pork Chop. I love the aroma of lemongrass in the marination of the pork fillet. Grilled to tender perfection, it is served with sunny-side up egg, fresh local herbs, pickled vegetables and steamed fragrant rice.

Seafood Mee Goreng 4.5/5

There is the Malay style mee goreng as well as the Chinese style. I prefer the latter for its wetter version, which is a bit like the hokkien mee. The Seafood Mee Goreng here hits all the right notes for me. Mildly spiced, the wok fried yellow noodles comes with egg, prawns, squid, sliced fish and bean sprouts.

Fish Head Curry 4.2/5

One should not miss having the Fish Head Curry at White Rose Cafe. The fish head curry is prepared accordingly to the well guarded recipe from Soon Heng Restaurant dating from 1970s, touted as the creator of the Singaporean Chinese style fish head curry. The red snapper fish head is first steamed and then cooked in a mildly spiced assam or tamarind based curry sauce together with tomatoes lady fingers, sliced onions and fresh chillies. The fish is cooked perfectly, firm and moist with a delectable sweetness of the flesh.

Grilled Chicken Thigh 4/5

Besides the Asian fares, there are Western classics such as Fish N Chips and Grilled Chicken Thigh. I tried the grilled chicken thigh which is served with seasonal vegetables and sauteed potatoes. The chicken skin is grilled to a nice crisp while the meat is tender and juicy.

Tang Yuan 3/5

Wrapping up our dinner, we had the Tang Yuan, traditional glutinous rice balls stuffed with black sesame filling in hot ginger flavoured syrup. While I enjoyed the soft glutinous rice, I felt that the ginger soup is a bit too sharp. It need some extra sweetness to balance the sharpness.

I really enjoyed the refreshed a la carte menu at White Rose Cafe. The dishes served are food that is closed to our heart and I have to admit that it has executed them well. I would recommend the fish head curry, mee goreng and mee siam as my favourite.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


White Rose Cafe
York Hotel
21 Mount Elizabeth
Singapore 228516
Tel: +65 68301156
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Scotts Road towards Goodwood Park Hotel. At Goodwood Park, turn right and walk to the end of the carpark. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

NOW Noodles + @ Square 2 - The Only Place To Have Mee Tai Mak With Century Egg

A new noodle restaurant has opened at Square 2 in Novena offering some unique noodle dishes that has not been seen elsewhere in Singapore yet. Currently NOW Noodles + offers only 5 noodle dishes on the menu but they are already have plans to introduce more noodle dishes on top of their amazing five.

Mee Tai Mak with Century Egg 4.5/5

For me the Mee Tai Mak with Century Egg ($9.80) is the best try dish at NOW Noodles +. This is a dish that you probably can't find it elsewhere in Singapore, at least for now. The mee tai wok is stir fried with century egg, fried egg and homemade belacan for a plate of aromatic goodness infused with wok hei. It felt as if  am digging into a hot plate of fried kway teow or fried carrot cake.

Heng Hwa Noodle Soup 4.5/5

The other unique dish on the menu is the Heng Hwa Noodle Soup ($9.80) that comes with a huge piece of chicken and black fungus. The texture of the noodle has more bite compare to those Heng Hwa Lor Mee commonly found in Singapore. The highlight is the ginger based broth that complement the noodle excellently and it is not too overpowering.

Dry Mee Siam 4.2/5

Dry Laksa 4/5

Now Noodles + makes their own rempah and this is used to stir fried their Dry Mee Siam ($9.80) and Dry Laksa ($9.80). I enjoyed both interpretation of the local flavours which come with huge, fresh crunchy prawns. The homemade rempah definitely is the key, allowing the noodles to shine in the execution.

Mee Goreng 3.5/5

There is even a vegetarian option in the Mee Goreng ($9.80), stir fried with vegetables, potatoes and mushroom. A rather simple dish without complex flavours but just allowing the ingredients and wok hei to do the talking.

Malasada 3/5

For some sweet treats, there are the  Malasada ($3.80/2pc) and Spanish Churros ($3.80 with a choice of 1 dip). The soft and pillowy malasada comes with three different filling - kaya curd, milk tea cream and orange marmalade. My personal favourite is the kaya as the flavour is sweeter to go with dense donut like treat.

Spanish Churros 3.5/5

I prefer the Spanish Churros more than the malasada. The mini churro was rather fun to eat, with its crispy exterior but yet soft interior. Guests have a choice of choosing a dip which is the same as the masalada filling, kaya curd, milk tea cream or orange marmalade.

I would highly recommend the Mee Tai Mak with Century Egg, Heng Hwa Noodle Soup and Dry Mee Siam if you plan to check out the restaurant. It is definitely worth the visit for the unique noodle dishes. On a side note, I think the sweet treats are a bit off from their local and Asian concept. I would prefer to have a bowl of red bean or green bean soup, which I think would be more align to the whole local and Asian noodles menu.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


NOW Noodles +
Square 2
10 Sinaran Drive
#02-65
Singapore
Tel: +65 62510177
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Nearest MRT: Novena (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

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

Punggol Seafood @ The Punggol Settlement

Punggol end has always been a part of my childhood memory. It is where my dad brought us for dinner during special occasions when young. We thought it was appropriate to bring our dad but to the re-developed punggol end, renamed as The Punggol Settlement, to celebrate our dad's birthday. Together with the re-developed, Hock Kee Punggol Seafood has also moved back to where they all started.

Baby Squid 3.5/5

The Deep Fried Baby Squid ($24) seems to be a delight for young and ladies. The enjoyed the crispiness of the deep fried baby squid coated with a layer of sweet sauce.

Fish Maw Soup 3/5

I find the the Fish Maw Soup ($30) was rather expensive with the sort of quality. The fish maw was rather dry and did not have that spongy texture. The soup was quite starchy too.

Asparagus with Scallop 3/5

The Asparagus with Scallop ($40) was quite bland in the sense that it lacked the garlicky aroma of stir frying. The consolation was that the greens were sweet and cooked to a nice crunch.

La La Bee Hoon 4/5

I am actually quite excited when I saw that the restaurant offers the La La Bee Hoon ($28.80). The version at Punggol Seafood is different from the one I had at Diamond Kitchen. The la la been hoon here used a different type of bee hoon which is brown in colour and has a more firmer texture. The gravy itself is more cloudy. If I am not wrong milk is added, quite similar to those fish soup stall.

Mee Goreng 2/5

The other noodle dish on the menu, Mee Goreng ($12) was unfortunately very disappointing. The whole dish simply lacked any wok hei or flavours. It was so bad that the whole table of us left it untouched after just a mouth bite.

Gong Gong 4.5/5

Another dish that is very well executed is the Gong Gong ($12). The dish is actually flamed at table side, allowing the Chinese wine to be infused. What made this event more enjoyable is the gravy that tasted of a mixture of butter and chinese wine that is used to cook the sea snail. I was so good that I actually gone back for a couple more sips of the gravy.

Steamed Soon Hock 4.2/5

Punggol Seafood serves live seafood which is quite in their fish tanks. My dad actually chose and catch the Steamed Soon Hock ($38.50) himself. Timed perfectly in steaming the fish, I like the simplicity of just using salted vegetables and sour plums, allowing the freshness of the fish to shine.

Chilli Crab 4.2/5

The mud crab used at Punggol seafood is really huge. It should be more than 2.5kg per crab. The freshness of the Chilli Crab ($88) can be tasted in its firmness and sweetness. For the gravy, I thought it can be more robust and spicier. It is actually not bad, it is just that it felt slightly short of my expectation.

Overall there were some hits and misses at Punggol Seafood. It seems that they are better on their seafood dishes. The la la bee hoon is recommendable too.


Punggol Seafood
The Punggol Settlement
3 Punggol Point Road
#01-08/09
Singapore 828694
Tel: +65 64488511
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PonggolSeafoodHockKee
Website: http://www.ponggolseafood.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Punggol (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Punggol MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Punggol temporary Bus Interchange (Stop ID 65009). Take bus number 84. Alight 6 stops later. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Pondok Jawa Timur @ North Bridge Road

My visit to Pondok Jawa Timur was back in March 2014 and I have heard that they have relocated to their new location at 737 North Bridge Road. Together with Maureen and Kimberley, we stopped by Pondok Jawa Timur on a weekday night for dinner.

Avocado Juice 3.5/5

A must order drink for me whether I have Indonesian food is the Avocado Juice ($5.80). I have always enjoyed the nutty and creamy drink,

Soto Madura 3.5/5

The Soto Madura with Beef ($6.50) reminds me of Mee Soto. It seems rather similar except it comes with pieces of beef. Squeezed a dash of the lime or add some chilli to alter the flavour for an accentuated enjoyment.

Corn Batter with Prawn 4/5

During my previous visit, I did not get to try the Corn Batter with Prawn ($5.70 for 3pc). I am glad that I got to try it this time round. It is really a delightfully snack to kick start the meal.

Tahu Telor 4/5

The peanut sauce at Pondok Jawa Timur is freshly made daily. There are 3 different types of peanut sauces at the restaurant for the various dishes. The one used for the Tahu Telor ($6.90) is richer and bolder in flavour which goes well with the fried tofu and egg.

Gado Gado 4.2/5

The other peanut sauce is used for the Gado Gado ($6.90). The sauce is lighter but creamier with a subtle sweetness that paired excellently with the vegetables.

Sate Ayam 3.8/5

Lastly the peanut sauce which is more coarse and nutty is the perfect marriage for the delectable Sate Ayam ($8.90). I thought the sate ayam was not as well marinated compared to my previous visit. It was also missing that charred smokey flavour I was looking for.

Mie Goreng Jawa 4/5

If you want to just have a quick meal and you do not want to over order, I would recommend the Mie Goreng Jawa ($6.90). I like the fact that the stir fried noodles is the wet kind, flavourful and with hints of wok hei aroma.

Ayam Penyet 4.5/5

Probably a Singaporean favourite is the Ayam Penyet ($6.90) that is served with freshly made sambal. The ayam penyet is another dish I would order. The chicken is cooked to a nice exterior crisp while retaining the tenderness inside.

Rice

Over at Pondok Jawa Timur, customers have a choice of 3 different types of rice. Namely the normal white rice, pandan rice and yellow rice.

Fish Head Curry 3.8/5

I did not really enjoy the Fish Head Curry ($32.9) during my previous visit as I thought it was too watery. However, the fish head curry was more palatable this time round. According to the owner instead of using coconut milk, they used fresh milk to cook their curry. The gravy will go well with a plate of rice or even bread.

Es Teler 3.5/5

Wrapping up the dinner, I have the Es Teler ($4.50) which is a sweet dessert of fresh fruits, shaved ice and condensed milk. I was introduced to the dessert during a Jakarta trip and this has become my favourite Indonesia dessert. I simply love the taste of condensed milk with the shaved ice. However I think the presentation could be better and the shaved ice can be finer. It was a bit coarse on the palate.

After moving from Selegie to the new location at North Bridge Road, Pondok Jawa Timur exactly dropped their prices. I was actually quite surprise but it is a great news to the customers. On top of that, there is no service and GST. With the type of pricing and good food, it is definitely a wallet friendly place for a meal.


Pondok Jawa Timur
737 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198705
Tel: +65 68845853
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pondok-Jawa-Timur-Javanese-Cuisine/484078558340235
Website: http://www.pondokjawatimur.com/
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Victoria Street towards Golden Landmark Shopping Complex. Turn right onto Arab Street. At the junction of Arab Street and North Bridge Road, turn left onto North Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

House of Seafood (螃蟹之家) @ The Punggol Settlement

The end of Punggol Road where Punggol Jetty is located has fond memories for me. This is where my parents used to bring me to have a feast for family gathering or special occasions during my childhood days. Many years have passed and the new development at the end of Punggol Road has taken shape. It has transformed into a beautiful waterfront for both food and leisure, perfect for a family day out. The idea location  has also seen many seafood restaurants opened along the coastal line at The Punggol Settlement. One such restaurants is the popular House of Seafood (螃蟹之家) popular for their black pepper crab.

Pan Fried Chicken Cutlet with Special Sauce 4.2/5

I probably would not have ordered the Pan Fried Chicken Cutlet with Special Sauce ($12/$16/$20) at a seafood restaurant if not for the recommendation of the staff. It was really an excellent recommendation. The chicken cutlet coated in a special sauce was so tender and succulent, getting praises around the table. Garnished with quail egg which is an interesting pairing, is a dish to try at House of Seafood.

Stir Fried Asparagus with XO Sauce 4/5

I always find that XO Sauce is a wonder sauce that goes well with almost any ingredients. The Stir Fried Asparagus ($12/$16/$20) beautifully coated with XO Sauce was sweet and crunchy. The XO sauce gave the dish the extra lift of spiciness and aroma that will be well received by the locals.

La La 3/5

The La La ($12/$16/$22) has its hits and misses. The broth that cooked the la la was lackluster but the freshness of the shellfish with its sweet and plump flesh redeemed the dish.

Crispy Beancurd with Chef Special Sauce 3/5

The Crispy Beancurd with Chef Special Sauce ($15/$20/$25) was crispy on the exterior and silky smooth inside. The presentation topped with pork floss looked somewhat like the Addias logo to our amusement. The so called chef special sauce is non other than a familiar Thai sweet spicy sauce which was a bit old school in my opinion.

Pork Ribs with Special Sauce 3.5/5

The Pork Ribs with Special Sauce ($15/$20/$25) received mixed opinions around the table. I actually quite like the flavour of the special sauce enhancing the enjoying in tearing the meat off from the bone.

Mee Goreng 3.5/5

Fried White Bee Hoon with XO Sauce 4.2/5

Moving on to the noodle dishes, I tried the Mee Goreng ($8/$12/$16) and Fried White Bee Hoon with Xo Sauce. I thought both were very well executed. For the mee goreng I have always preferred the Chinese style wetter version and I managed to get my satisfaction at House of Seafood. The Fried White Bee Hoon with XO sauce was really outstanding with its wok hei aromatic complemented by a superior stock.

Black Pepper Crab 3.8/5

Salted Egg Crab 4/5

Next up is the crowning of the dinner with the Black Pepper Crab (market price) and Salted Egg Crab (market price). Voted the best Black Pepper Crab in Singapore, the crustacean did come with a peppery kick. However the black pepper sauce was too pasty for my liking. The Salted Egg Crab fares better with its finger licking good creamy salted egg sauce. How I wish there were some fried mantou to wipe clean the plate.

During my visit which is a Saturday evening, the restaurant is packed. Singaporean loves of seafood and the location although far but along the waterfront proves to be a winning formula similar to East Coast Seafood Village. The Punggol Settlement probably will be the next seafood village of the North East.


House of Seafood
The Punggol Settlement
3 Punggol Point Road
#01-01/02
Singapore 828694
Tel: +65 64669000
Website: http://www.houseofseafood.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Punggol (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5pm - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Punggol MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Punggol temporary Bus Interchange (Stop ID 65009). Take bus number 84. Alight 6 stops later. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]